Milan City Council's recent decision to make the three main trade union confederations cover the costs of overtime paid to the traffic wardens supervising a trade union demonstration against secession, held on 20 September 1997, is without precedent in Italy's political and industrial relations history.
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Milan City Council's recent decision to make the three main trade union confederations cover the costs of overtime paid to the traffic wardens supervising a trade union demonstration against secession, held on 20 September 1997, is without precedent in Italy's political and industrial relations history.
The mayor of Milan, Gabriele Albertini, an ex-president of the Federation of Metalworking Industries (Federmeccanica), who leads a politically centre-right city council, would appear to have offered an unexpected "helping hand" to the leader of the Lega Nord, Umberto Bossi, in his campaign against the trade union confederations (IT9708124N).
On 9 September 1997, the mayor sent the Cgil, Cisl and Uil trade union organisations in Milan a letter requesting them to cover the costs of traffic wardens' overtime pay incurred during the national demonstration against the secession of Northern Italy, scheduled for the 20 September (IT9709130N).
This request was met with much discontent and disapproval among both the trade unions and the public. Milan has staged many public demonstrations promoted by the political parties, but never before has payment been requested for the overtime costs of the traffic wardens.
For the trade unions, the most serious issue is that the first-ever such request has been made concerning a demonstration in favour of national unity, in which many citizens who are not represented by the trade unions will also take part.
In an official statement issued on the 10 September, the trade unions stated that:
the demonstration on 20 September is completely "self-financed and self-governed";
the municipality cannot fail in its duty to guarantee the use of the urban area to the community during the demonstration; and
if the mayor confirms the decision it "will be considered as an attempt to limit the constitutional rights of all citizens to express their opinions freely, collectively and publicly".
Traffic wardens who are members of Cgil, Cisl and Uil have controversially affirmed their willingness to renounce their overtime pay if the mayor insists on charging the unions.
It is most likely that the municipality's initiative will end up being withdrawn, nevertheless it has served to increase the already strong political and social unrest in the whole North of the country.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (1997), Trade unions made to pay for demonstration, article.
