Union of Italian Workers holds 14th congress

In late June 2006, the Union of Italian Workers held its 14th congress in Rome. The conference, entitled ‘Labour: the real wealth of the country’, focused on employment, tax reform, pensions, and institutional and industrial relations issues. A new secretariat was also elected as part of the proceedings.

On 25–28 June 2006, the 14th national congress of Italy’s third largest trade union confederation, the Union of Italian Workers (Unione Italiana del Lavoro, Uil), which counts about two million members, was held in Rome.

A new secretariat was elected on the occasion of the congress. Luigi Angeletti was confirmed as the new Secretary General, while Domenico Proietti and Paolo Carcassi have replaced Adriano Musi and Franco Lotito, respectively, as members of the secretariat. In addition, Carmelo Barbagallo, Fabio Canapa, Antonio Foccillo, Guglielmo Loy, Paolo Pirani, Lamberto Santini, Nirvana Nisi and Rocco Carannante were confirmed as members of the secretariat.

Main issues discussed

The congress entitled ‘Labour: the real wealth of the country’ (Il lavoro vera ricchezza del paese (in Italian)) was attended by the main representatives of the social partners, along with government officials and representatives from various institutions, bringing together some 1,056 delegates.

Labour market reform

At the congress, the Secretary General of Uil, Luigi Angeletti, voiced the high concerns of his confederation about employment, in particular about the current level of employment flexibility. Uil proposes to address this issue by ‘combining protection and development, workers’ rights and economic growth’. According to Uil, the law on labour market reform (IT0303103N) – approved during the former legislative process – has ‘solved some contradictions but left many key issues unsolved’. Uil is calling for a reorganisation of employment forms effectively required by companies and by the labour market. According to Mr Angeletti, the law on labour market reform should be ‘improved and completed, in order to foster a convergence between labour demand and labour supply, to spread the bilateral management of the labour market and to set up a new and more efficient system of social shock absorbers’. Uil believes that flexible labour should cost more than regular labour and that employers should make use of this type of employment only in cases of genuine production and organisational needs. The union confederation considers that flexible labour should not be introduced by employers as a way of reducing costs.

Pensions

Mr Angeletti also clearly expressed Uil’s position in relation to pensions. He stated that another reform of the pension system is not considered necessary but that the government should get rid of the 2008 clause (IT0512101N), separate social security from social assistance, anticipate the activation of supplementary pensions and levelling of the social security contributions and pension provisions of independent and dependent workers. He warned that if these tasks are not carried out, ‘the forthcoming generation of retired workers risks finding themselves below the poverty line’.

Economic outlook

Italy’s economic situation was another key issue discussed at the Uil congress. According to Mr Angeletti, a policy for the redistribution of wealth in favour of dependent employment could help trigger Italy’s economic revival. The elimination of taxes on negotiated wage increases for a period of four years and a review of the current tax policy could contribute to achieving this result, but only as a first step in a more general and widespread reform of the Italian tax system. Mr Angeletti believes that the solution to all structural imbalances has to be found in the renewal of economic development.

Social dialogue and concertation

At the congress, the issue of concertation also re-emerged, not only as a means of supporting economic recovery but also as a way of facilitating real economic growth. The issue of concertation was also referred to by Prime Minister Romano Prodi in his speech at the congress. Mr Prodi confirmed the government’s willingness to meet with the trade unions but also expressed his wish for a new model of concertation, as he considers the current one to be too complicated and inefficient.

During the congress, the Uil trade union confederation also reproposed a reform of the current two-tier bargaining system in favour of a more decentralised system. Uil intends to confirm the value and role of the national collective agreement, but considers that wealth should be distributed in the fairest way possible. This will be possible, according to the confederation, only by establishing a universal, second-level bargaining structure. Mr Angeletti also suggested a possible formal dismissal of the Agreement of 23 July 1993, in order to accelerate the reform of the bargaining system. According to Mr Angeletti, this model is now obsolete and should be changed with or without the consensus of the other confederations; otherwise, wages risk being subjected to a ‘slow and constant reduction’.

Europe was another key topic for discussion at the congress. Uil underlined the need to have a European trade union able to bear the responsibility of a reformist path, calling for reform of the tax system, public expenditure, social responsibility and consumer protection.

Reaction of other union confederations

Secretary General of the General Confederation of Italian Workers (Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro, Cgil), Guglielmo Epifani, supported the proposals of Mr Angeletti, particularly in relation to concertation: ‘if concertation has to take place, the position of the trade union must be considered in the subsequent decision-making processes’, he commented.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Italian Confederation of Workers’ Unions (Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori, Cisl), Raffaele Bonnani, declared that the choice of formally dismissing the July 1993 agreement was legitimate, but that the trade unions should first meet and discuss such a move in order to find common agreement about what aspects of the agreement should be retained or eliminated.

Marta Santi, CESOS