News in the Industry
Roberto Cavalli Employees Take Action
LAST week, the announcement of Peter Dundas's departure from Roberto Cavalli was swiftly followed by a statement by the brand saying that it is set to undergo a dramatic restructure (including a cut of almost 30 per cent of its workforce), news of which has been met with upset and the threat of action from employees.
An eight-hour strike was staged by workers on Friday, according to WWD, and they are reported to have scheduled an imminent meeting with local politicians and institutions in Osmannoro, near the company's Florence base.
The reorganisation - which the brand's new CEO, Gian Giacomo Ferraris, hopes will return it to profitability by 2018 - encompasses the closing of the company's corporate and design offices in Milan and moving all functions to its headquarters in Florence. It will also shut or relocate stores in underperforming areas.
"The workers are distraught. They are told that there is a centralisation in Florence but in reality they fear a downsizing of strategic functions also at the Florence headquarters,” said Bernardo Marasco, a representative of the workers’ union Filctem Cgil Florence, of the drastic shake-up. “We are waiting for the start of the mobility procedure to know the number of potential layoffs. As for us, there is a battle to do and we will do it to defend jobs and the brand on the territory. Mobilisation is the response to the company’s plans.”