by EH
In a show of solidarity with Wärtsilä workers, Bishop Trevisi has issued an open letter rallying the entire city of Trieste behind the employees. Unfazed by setbacks, disillusionment, and deficiencies that led to the current impasse, the Bishop urges institutions, backed by the entire city, not to concede to the closure of the Bagnoli della Rosandra site and the dismissal of nearly 300 workers.
Trevisi’s letter reads:
“This is not a time for resignation but a moment for proposals. It’s a time when contributions from the productive and entrepreneurial sectors are expected to prevent the loss of a crucial industrial hub. While the Church doesn’t claim expertise in industrial and financial matters, it is committed to standing with those at risk of unemployment and maintaining a focus on the common good, envisioning the city’s future and its ability to sustain an excellent industrial district within a framework of sustainable and integral development.
The prayer is that hearts and minds remain open, sensitive to the needs of promoting the preservation of good jobs for all. Too many young people, having graduated and perhaps studied in local universities, are forced to seek employment abroad. To truly benefit Trieste, efforts must be united to create conditions for quality employment, appropriate remuneration, and adequate services that support the life goals of both the youth and young families.
Standing by Wärtsilä workers means advocating for an economy embedded in a thought-out societal and communal plan, empathetic towards the younger generations and vulnerable individuals, such as unemployed individuals in their fifties. While acknowledging the necessity for economically sound businesses, the Bishop emphasizes the occasional stench of illegality, worker exploitation, environmental harm, and the misappropriation of subsidies. He contends that businesses can also exhibit social responsibility, achieving surprising outcomes with profits distributed equitably.
Looking ahead to the 50th Social Week of Catholics in Italy in July, Bishop Trevisi calls for a focus on democracy and participation. In light of the Wärtsilä situation, he asserts that it’s everyone’s responsibility to conceive an economy tied to the common good, where all parties contribute to the smooth functioning of a company while keeping it within a positive fabric of social and cultural development. If the economy loses touch with the genuine respect for workers, the environment, and the city’s social and cultural fabric, it devolves into exploitation for the benefit of a few, betraying its identity as part of a larger whole, compelling us to approach the future responsibly and boldly, with justice in mind.”
