Only In Italy: Unions Demand Alfa Romance With Volkswagen

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Usually, unions take to the streets when their company is supposed to be sold. In Italy, unions demand the sale of their company.

In Milan, union representatives marched to the German consulate and handed the consul a letter in which they demand that Fiat lets Alfa go and that Volkswagen takes over.” With the letter delivered, the demonstrators grabbed megaphones and shouted: “Alfa has no chance with Fiat. We want Volkswagen!” Scusami?

Of course, all involved say that rumors of a wedding between an Italian Romeo and a Julia from Wolfsburg are just rumors. Can’t you listen? It’s rumors!

Controsenso! According to Die Welt, VW Chairman Piech is forcing the pace of the Alfa Romeo romance. He just said that the brand “could be brought back to its old glory with little effort.” Piech is also said to be behind Volkswagen’s intensifying labor piracy in Italy: Volkswagen bought the Italian design house Giuigiaro, they hired Walter de Silva as Chief Designer, later they robbed Luca de Meo and Giovanni Perosino. Meanwhile, Alfa is run by a German, Harald Wester.

When de Silva showed up in Milan in November, his visit made headlines, and local politicos expressed hopes that the Germans would come and swoop up the neglected bride. And now unions take to the streets and shout: ” We want Volkswagen! We don’t want Fiat!”

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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