On December 19, workers from Cerved Group, totaling around 2,700 employees scattered across Italy, took part in national protests against the company's recently introduced artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives and its controversial Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).
The protests spanned multiple locations, including significant demonstrations at the company’s headquarters in San Donato Milanese and sit-ins at the industrial site of Mangone. The mobilization was primarily organized by the trade unions - Filcams Cgil and Fisascat Cisl Calabria - aiming to address increasing tensions surrounding workforce reductions and the lack of transparency from the management.
The heart of the discontent lies with the PIP, which the company claimed would offer employees opportunities for professional growth. Instead, workers report the plan has become coercive, applied without defined goals and criteria. "The PIP has been used to pressure employees, fostering insecurity and fear of layoffs should they not conform to its demands,” stated Giuseppe Valentino, Secretary of Filcams Cgil.
Newly instated training schemes, which were described as opaque by employees, have added to their concerns. With 90 of the 270 workers located at the Mangone site scheduled to undergo this training, fears are rife among employees who interpret these programs as potential pretexts for future job cuts.
“We are wary of these training courses. They could very well lead to future layoffs under the guise of professional development,” mentioned Anna Runco, another representative from Filcams Cgil Cerved.
The introduction of AI within Cerved has raised alarms not only for its potential to streamline operations but also for the likelihood of job cuts to follow. Cerved's recent layoffs of 107 commercial agents replaced with AI technology signal what some workers fear could be just the beginning of widespread job losses. “It's alarming how quickly they are moving to replace humans with machines,” Runco added.
Conducted assemblies have seen workers voice their frustrations over Cerved’s management’s unilateral decisions, particularly the lack of negotiation and transparency before implementing these significant changes. According to reports from BBC, employees argue they were not afforded the necessary opportunities to negotiate terms before these plans morphed from discussions to actions.
Trade unions, including Cgil, Cisl, and Uil, have banded together to demand job security and clarity from Cerved’s top management. “We want transparency, respect, and guarantees for our future,” protested Roberto Perri, representing Fisascat Cisl Cerved. The unions assert these measures are necessary to prevent automation from eroding job security across various departments.
Protests on December 19 highlighted the emotional toll this uncertainty is taking on workers, who fear their roles may vanish under the weight of AI's increasing presence. “This isn’t just about saving jobs; it’s about maintaining quality of life for us and our families,” one protester remarked during the sit-in.
Shifts to AI come at a time when Cerved claims operational health, exhibiting positive results, which has left many baffled at the need for such drastic measures. Yet, the perception of vulnerability has become real for workers who feel they are being pressured to adapt quickly under pressure.
Cerved Group, known for its credit assessment services, has built its foundation on the people who work there. Yet, the smooth operational path they once enjoyed now appears riddled with challenges as the company navigates the digital transition toward automation.
Experts suggest this move mirrors broader trends across the industry, where companies lean toward automation for efficiency, posing lasting repercussions for employment rates. Workers firmly believe decisions made now can shape the future of their jobs and the nature of labor itself.
With workers pledging to continue their fight for transparency and job security, they are urging stakeholders to pay attention to their plight. The collective actions echo throughout the industry, raising questions about the future of work amid advancing technology.
Moving forward, Cerved's management will need to address these concerns seriously to prevent eroding trust within its workforce. Workers have called for dialogue instead of unilateral decision-making, pleading for clear communication as technological changes evolve.
