Industrial relations 

As stated in the Fiat S.p.A. Code of Conduct, the Group recognizes and respects the right of its employees to be represented by trade unions or other representatives established in accordance with local applicable legislation and practice.
Fiat Group maintains relationships with trade unions and employee representatives that are based on mutual respect, engagement and constructive interaction.

During 2011, dialogue continued to be pursued to achieve consensus-based solutions designed to raise the high standard of competitiveness of the Group’s companies and manage the impact on jobs of measures taken in response to market conditions, which remain critical particularly in Europe.

Production stoppages – implemented through recourse to temporary layoff benefit schemes, where available, or other measures based on collective agreements or company policy – were lower overall than in 2010 (with the exception of Italy), as was the level of restructuring and reorganization.

The need to increase production volumes to respond to improved conditions in some markets was primarily satisfied through the use of overtime and hiring of new employees, mainly in the US and Latin America.