Italy: after leaving Eni, Snam is defining its own industrial relations model

Origins of the model. Until October 2012, Snam* was controlled by Eni, which also defined its industrial relations system. Applying the 3rd European Energy Package, which provides that hydrocarbon producers and transporters have to be separate, Eni, which owned 52 percent of shares, was forced – via a decree by the Monti administration in 2012 – to sell most of its shares. It only has 8 percent now and no voting rights or board representation. In this context, Snam has decided to get a new industrial relations system in order to “maintain, with our newfound independence, the starting industrial relations framework, confirming a model based on dialogue between the parties,” Marco de Giorgi, in charge of labor relations management in the group, told Planet Labor. The new system isn’t very far from Eni’s previous social relations culture, “but this is a completely independent decision on our part and unions’ part,” he points out. The deal struck with unions on October 17 is in line with the group’s growth, linked with the fundamental objectives of the EU’s energy policy**.