Just because you spend your days in Maranello crafting F430s, 599s, and 612s, listen to them roar through the streets, and watch customers gleefully receive the keys to their new Italian toys doesn't mean life is perfect. Even though Ferrari was just voted as the best place to work in Europe, Ferrari workers have been on strike since March.
The main reason for the strike is that the workers want higher bonuses, among other things. But they are also unhappy because they believe the quality of Ferraris is declining. Fiat is simply trying to make too many of them to maintain the necessary quality standards that would live up to Ferrari's image. The unique thing about this strike: the workers only strike on Saturday, and not all of them at one time. Production has been slowed, but not stopped. Of course, none of the workers on the Formula 1 team are on strike -- that would be unthinkable.
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
Volkswagen unveiling two-door Elise fighter in LA, new sports car
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
First Drive: 2009 Kia Borrego
In The Autoblog Garage: 2008 Mercedes SLK55 AMG
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
evlmnky @ May 14th 2007 3:18PM
*raises hand*
Scab for hire?
BOB @ May 14th 2007 3:22PM
----AH, ITALY!!!!!!!!
Of course the workers only have partial Saturday strikes, so they can make a little statement, and get a little extra weekend time.
Years ago, I used to travel to Italy on business. Eventually, I noted that the hotel strikes and train strikes were usually on days with lovely weather. Why bother taking off work when it rains?
Such a wonderful country, with people who understand the joy of life -- we could take notes.
Toy Yoda @ May 14th 2007 3:38PM
On strike, because they want more money, but the big shocker is because they feel the quality has gone down. Has there ever been a strike in America for the latter reason? Talk about people who are passionate about cars.
fizzandpop @ May 14th 2007 3:48PM
This news is weeks old.
scappy @ May 14th 2007 3:50PM
quality has gone done = "overworked". Seems like their way of saying pay me more but i'll work less.
Mr. Oak @ May 14th 2007 4:05PM
Agree with the employees on the watered down issue. I used to be able to keep track of the models in production at Ferrari, but not anymore. I really don't even care what what they build anymore, not the garden variety Ferraris anyway. Not even sure what they've built since the Enzo.
Peter Hill @ May 14th 2007 5:25PM
----AH, ITALY!!!!!!!! "Italian strike" could be so stylish... Now Ferrari may win in "best place to strike in Europe" contest. :)
aman @ May 14th 2007 5:44PM
Wasn't this place recently voted "best place to work"? Like the EPA and CAFE, stats don't tell the whole story.
Rocket Punch @ May 14th 2007 8:46PM
Fire 1/3 of them and tell the others to work twice as hard.
Problem solved.
Phillip @ May 15th 2007 2:13AM
make #9 head of PR at Ferrari, no future problems aswell
Phillip @ May 15th 2007 2:13AM
*HR, not PR
James @ May 15th 2007 2:56AM
Mr. Oak has a problem keeping track of the three Ferraris in current production, even "garden variety" stuff like the F430, yet knows all about supposed quality problems...? Right.
Peter @ May 15th 2007 3:53PM
So they want volume to go down so quality will go up? Lower volume means lower profits -- so they are essentially striking in favor of pay cuts and layoffs.
jay @ May 16th 2007 1:58AM
@ 6
Do you have trouble keeping track of how many fingers you have? I'll give a hint. It's the same number as when you were born. Kinda like how Ferrari has the same number of models as they had 10 years ago. It's not like they're building half-assed SUVs and sedans like some other sellouts. Burn!