As a consequence, starting from April 4, weekly production shifts will be reduced to 15 from 17, resulting in some 1,500 workers a day being put on furlough, unions said.
Stellantis declined to comment.
Stellantis currently builds the Fiat 500X small crossover, Jeep Renegade small SUV and Jeep Compass compact SUV in Melfi. Plug-in hybrid versions of the Jeeps are also assembled at the plant, which exports the Renegade and 500X to the U.S.
The plant resumed operations this week after a 10-day stoppage which affected all its over 7,000 workers, amid a global chip shortage and a protest by truck drivers.
