Pedersini, Roberto
Fiom congress seeks to restore dialogue
27 Ιούνιος 2004
In June 2004, Fiom-Cgil, the largest trade union in Italy's key metalworking
sector, held its national congress in Livorno. The congress concluded with
re-election of the organisation's general secretary, Gianni Rinaldini, and
adoption of a united final document. The main points discussed were
bargaining policy and representation - two themes that are crucial if
dialogue is to be restored with the other metalworkers’ unions after a
period of conflict and separate agreements.
Dispute over local public transport agreement leads to 'wildcat' strike in Milan
04 Ιανουάριος 2004
On 1 December 2003, Italian local public transport workers held strike action
in protest against the prolonged delay in renewing their national pay
agreement, which expired in late 2001. In the city of Milan, the stoppage -
initially announced as being of eight hours’ duration, in compliance with
the law on strikes in essential public services - turned into a total
blockade of transport services which caused major difficulties for residents.
Reactions to this 'wildcat' action from the municipal institutions, the
government and the social partners differed in tone and content.
Fiom-Cgil continues campaign for reopening of negotiations on metalworking agreement
29 Οκτώβριος 2003
In autumn 2003, the Fiom-Cgil trade union is continuing its campaign for the
reopening of negotiations on the metalworking sector collective agreement,
which was signed in May 2003 by employers and the other two main
metalworkers' unions, Fim-Cisl and Uilm-Uil. As well a series of strikes,
Fiom-Cgil has initiated company-level bargaining to conclude
'pre-agreements'- company agreements intended to anticipate the contents of a
future new sectoral accord - and thereby compel the employers’ associations
to reopen national negotiations. The employers' associations have reacted
sharply to Fiom’s initiative, while some firms have concluded such
pre-agreements.
Debate over inflation and incomes policy
29 Οκτώβριος 2003
In October 2003, an upturn in inflation has sparked debate between the
Italian social partners on its structural causes and how it can be brought
back into line with the forecast rate of inflation. The Ministry of
Production Activities has begun consultations with the social partners and
consumers’ organisations in order to draw up intervention measures. From
the point of view of industrial relations, the main issue is the future of
the incomes policy system.
Draft legislation on labour market reform approved
21 Ιούλιος 2003
In June 2003, the Italian government approved a draft decree enacting the
recent 'proxy law' on employment and the labour market. The decree envisages
numerous measures and innovations in terms of employment services and
contracts - such as staff leasing, on-call work, project work and
work/training contracts - and of the involvement of the social partners in
management of the labour market. Before the decree is finally passed, it will
be discussed by the government and the social partners, which have differing
views on the proposals.
Metalworking agreement signed without Fiom-Cgil
26 Μάιος 2003
In May 2003, after four months of intense negotiations, a draft deal on the
renewal of the Italian metalworking sector collective agreement for the
period 2003-6 was signed by the Federmeccanica employers' organisation and
the Fim-Cisl and Uilm-Uil trade unions. However, the Fiom-Cgil union did not
sign the agreement and harshly criticised its provisions. As well as pay
increases, the new agreement envisages the creation of a new job
classification system, the establishment of a sectoral joint body and some
measures on continuing training.
First sectoral agreement signed for Italian railways
26 Μάιος 2003
After lengthy negotiations, the first sectoral agreement for the Italian
railway industry was signed in April 2003. The most important aspect of this
deal is the extension to the railway sector of the two-tier collective
bargaining structure (sectoral and decentralised), which was introduced in
most Italian industries by a July 1993 national tripartite agreement. Among
other innovations, the railway sector agreement includes a new personnel
classification system and provides for flexible forms of employment. It
represents a notable renewal of sectoral industrial relations, carried out in
the framework of the current liberalisation of the railway sector based on EU
rules.
New collective agreement signed for ministry employees
31 Μάρτιος 2003
In February 2003, a new collective agreement for the 280,000 employees of
Italian ministries was signed, concluding negotiations which had lasted for
14 months. The deal complies with a framework agreement on public sector
bargaining reached in February 2002 in terms of its pay provisions. It also
contains innovative provisions on preventing and combating sexual harassment
and bullying at the workplace.
2002 Annual Review for Italy
25 Μάρτιος 2003
The centre-right coalition of parties elected in May 2001, the House of
Freedoms (Casa delle Libertà), continued to govern during 2002, led by Prime
Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The coalition is composed of Forza Italia, the
National Alliance (Alleanza Nazionale), the Northern League (Lega Nord) and
the Centre Christian Democratic Union (Unione Democratica Cristiana di
Centro, UDC). The latter party was established through a merger at the end of
2002 between the Christian Democratic Centre (Centro Cristiano Democratico,
CCD), the United Christian Democrats (Cristiani Democratici Uniti, CDU) and
European Democracy (Democrazia Europea, DE), a party founded by Sergio
D’Antoni, the former general of the Italian Confederation of Workers'
Unions (Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori, Cisl).
Milan taxi drivers protest against increase in licences
06 Μάρτιος 2003
In January 2003, taxi drivers in Milan staged a series of protests against
the city council’s plan to increase the number of cab licences. The
regional and provincial governments intervened in the dispute in an attempt
to find a solution. The Guarantee Commission which oversees application of
the law on strikes in essential public services also started a procedure to
assess whether these rules had been breached. In February, taxi drivers'
representatives and the Milan provincial government reached a deal on the
dispute.