Italy: metallurgy as a testing ground for union opposition to the reform of the conventional system

No unitary platform for the renewal of the metallurgy CCN. Asking for a law on democratic rules for union representation and the validation of platforms and agreements by workers, the central committee confirmed that it rejected the reform of the conventional system (see our dispatches No. 090098 and No. 090419). It declared itself ready to discuss a unitary platform with the Fim-Cisl and Uilm for the renewal of the CCN, but only based on agreements they all signed. During its congress, on may 5-7, the Fim decided that it would base its platform for the renewal of the metallurgy CCN on the system determined in the separate agreement (see our dispatch No. 090080), before June 30. By doing so, it rejects the Fiom’s request to negotiate following the previous system and, consequently, to only renew the economic part of the CCN expiring at the end of the year. Acknowledging that it is “essential to define common rules for dispute settlement,” the Fim explains that accepting the Fiom’s offer would “mean denying the new rules approved by the Fim and lead to an insurmountable obstacle with Federmeccanica, which also signed the new rues.” The Fim’s new platform should guarantee “the defense of purchasing power” and propose “normative improvements.” After these declarations, Gianni Rinaldini, Fiom leader, confirmed, on may 8, that if the other organizations’ platforms are based on the new rules by the end of June, it will present its own platform to employers, but it will only concern the renewal of the economic part of the CCN for the next two ears, and will be supported by several assemblies on all workplaces.