After years of union division, the unitary strike against the government’s austerity program (see our dispatch No. 110750) called for by the CGIL, Cisl and Uil yesterday, December 12, was “fully successful,” the organizers say. This three-hour strike was the beginning of a week of mobilization. Today, December 13, major daily newspapers won’t be sold because of a strike in the printing industry. Public transport will stop on December 15 and 16, banks and insurances on the 16th, the civil service on the 19th and telecommunications on December 22. CGIL, Cisl and Uil maintain the gathering in front of the Parliament while the decree is being discussed. Today, the Minister of Labor announced the possibility of “toning down” the pension reform. Apparently, the text was already subject to “over 1,000 amendments” within the budget committee of the two houses. It is quite likely that it will be subject to a vote of confidence by the end of the week. Saying that the government’s maneuver was “iniquitous” and “regressive,” the union confederations are calling for more “fairness” whereas the current measures “heavily” penalize pensioners and workers. They are mainly calling for a more gradual implementation of the new age criteria and of the stricter conditions to access retirement and early retirement.
quitous” and “regressive,” the union confederations are calling for more “fairness” whereas the current measures “heavily” penalize pensioners and workers. They are mainly calling for a more gradual implementation of the new age criteria and of the stricter conditions to access retirement and early retirement.
Fragile unity. Cisl leader Raffaele Bonnani explained, “Strike is an extreme move when the interlocutor doesn’t want to talk.” In recent years, his union hasn’t used it “because dial
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