« It stopped all of a sudden«
The Crisis
The most traumatic memories of the crisis are linked to the closure of production sites, where the majority of the workforce is concentrated. Even after months of restructuring and rumors of liquidation, the sudden halt of the machines symbolizes the end of the world of factories. The brutality of the closures is amplified by their media coverage. News hit the front pages of regional newspapers and TV newscasts, and immediately found its way into every household. It came as a shock, followed by feelings of stupefaction and revolt among the staff. In fact, the shutdown of production units is synonymous with mass layoffs and forced exile. An entire economy of subcontractors and suppliers is affected. The liquidation of industrial centers led to the abandonment of huge buildings that were difficult to repurpose and that marked the urban landscape for decades.