MILAN (AFP) - Alitalia said that the government and trade unions had set a deadline of October 5 to reach agreement on social measures by the state to help staff who will lose their jobs in the carrier's relaunch program.
"October 5 is the limit" for finding an agreement, said Alitalia chairman and chief executive Giancarlo Cimoli, following a meeting between the government, unions and the airline's management.
Savino Pezzotta, secretary general of the CISL union, said: "The government should reflect anew about the instruments that it should use on the scope of the measures to take," not only for the company but for the entire aviation sector.
Alitalia and the unions representing its personnel have reached agreements in recent week on a restructuring plan aimed at saving the troubled carrier from bankruptcy.
As part of the plan, the state, which currently holds a 62.37-percent stake in the carrier, was to offer social benefits to ease the cutting of 3,700 jobs.
Alitalia is soon expected to have access to a bridging loan of 400 million euros (493.2 million dollars), issued by a bank and backed by the state, that should keep it aloft until its re-capitalization.