On 29-30 November 2002, Cgil, one of Italy's three main trade union confederations, organised a demonstration in Naples in favour of the development of the country's southern regions and against the government's recent 2003 budget law.
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On 29-30 November 2002, Cgil, one of Italy's three main trade union confederations, organised a demonstration in Naples in favour of the development of the country's southern regions and against the government's recent 2003 budget law.
On 29 and 30 November 2002, the General Confederation of Italian Workers (Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro, Cgil) organised a national demonstration in Naples to protest against the government social and economic policy and, in particular, against its development policies for the South of Italy (Mezzogiorno) .
According to Cgil, the entire economic and social policy of the current centre-right government and thus its 2003 state budget law (IT0211104F) should be rejected. In particular Cgil does not agree with the government's measures on:
the tax system. The budget law 'does not support development and is not fair';
the schools system. The budget cuts staffing and introduces the 'possibility of privatisation'; and
the healthcare system. The budget cuts economic transfers to the regions and local authorities, obliging them to increase social service levies or to reduce public healthcare services. Cuts to local bodies' funding thus reduces disposable family income and as a consequence cuts consumption, preventing economic recovery, according to Cgil.
Cgil also accuses also government of yielding to pressure from one of its parties, the Lega Nord, by extending tax incentives to companies in the North and reducing resources for the South. According to Cgil, the new threshold for tax incentives - which previously 'were automatic and had no limits'- aimed at stimulating investment and employment, and the 'muddled bureaucratic procedure' for credit access 'reduce the guarantees which lead employers to invest and hire in the South'.
The protests organised by Cgil included:
a national conference attended by more than 1,000 Cgil officials and delegates, held on 29 November in Naples. Representatives of other social partner organisations and of local institutions also took part; and
a march through Naples, which ended in Plebiscito square on 30 November. Demonstrators from all over Italy participated.
There were conflicting reports on the size of the march: according to the police, there were about 80,000 participants, while according to the organisers there were more than 250,000. The closing speeches on 30 November were given by local and national Cgil representative, including a delegate from the Termini Imerese plant of the crisis-stricken Fiat group (IT0210303F) and Guglielmo Epifani, the confederation's general secretary.
During his speech, Mr Epifani voiced many criticisms of the 2003 budget law, accusing the government of having cut funds for innovation and research, without which Italy cannot compete at international level. Mr Epifani extended his criticisms to companies which 'do not have the nerve to innovate and compete', including Fiat. He stated that 'companies are making the same mistake as the government', which has not intervened in an active way to safeguard the automobile industry, and does not realise 'that the country has already given up chemicals, information technology and telecommunications, thus driving the nation to bankruptcy and industrial decline.'
The demonstration ended with the announcement of an important national demonstration to be held in Milan in January 2003, in favour of workers' rights and against the recent reform of the employment protection rules in Article 18 of law 300/1970 (the Workers' Statute) (IT0207104F).
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Eurofound (2002), Cgil holds demonstration for development of South, article.
