This morning, 300 people marched in a procession to defend the future of their work. They are the employees of the Grand Hotel La Sonrisa in Sant'Antonio Abate, seized and entrusted to the real estate assets of the Municipality, for illegal land subdivision.
The hotel, with attached park and heliport, is well known - thanks to a television program on Real Time - as the Castle of Ceremonies: for the wedding parties and events that are organized in a lavish way, there are about 300 employees, between direct and indirect. They are all experts in the hospitality sector, who have been working for decades in the sector and now see their own job at risk, because the confiscation sentence provides for the complete demolition of the structure or the use for purposes of public utility.
This morning, the workers, some accompanied by their families, headed towards the Municipality, to meet the mayor Ilaria Abagnale to whom they presented their requests.
The meeting between the delegation of workers and the mayor of Sant'Antonio Abate did not clarify the uncertainties about the future of the hotel complex. But, on leaving the Municipality, the workers said they were confident and satisfied with the reassurances received from the first citizen. They also stated that they are aware that the times do not depend on the Municipality and that, therefore, the relevant authorities must be waited for.
The first citizen of Sant'Antonio Abate has assured that on his part he will do everything possible to "safeguard employment levels" explaining to the workers that at the moment even the municipal administration of Sant'Antonio Abate is not aware of "terms, conditions and timings" with which the operations of acquisition of the property to the municipal heritage will take place.
The entire municipal administration has shown solidarity and closeness to the workers: "As mayor of Sant'Antonio Abate, I reiterated to the workers that the dispute for the recognition of their rights will be brought to all institutional tables - said Mayor Ilaria Abagnale - We have listened to the workers and we have taken charge of all their requests, which of course will be reported to the relevant bodies. As already announced in recent days, I personally asked for a meeting with the prefect of Naples, Michele di Bari, to illustrate all the problems related to the execution of the sentence. If so far I have decided not to comment on the affair it is only and solely in the interest of women and men who, after years of sacrifices and commitment, today risk their job. The commitment of this administration, beyond everything and in maximum respect of the laws, will be to try to safeguard the employment levels of a very important reality for the territory of Sant'Antonio Abate".