An “inadequate” maneuver: CGIL and UIL take to the streetsagain without the CISL, against the economic choices of the government Giorgia Meloni. And to change the budget law they jointly proclaim a general strike: the date is Friday 29 November.
A decision that shows a further fracture on the trade union front and reignites the clash with the majority. “I would say that there is a very small prejudice”, quips the prime minister Giorgia Meloniwho was interviewed by Bruno Vespa indicates the issues in motion that the unions should like and underlines that the protest comes before the meeting scheduled for Tuesday at Palazzo Chigi. The League, then, does not mince words: “Ridiculous unions are striking against the increase in incomes.”
Giorgia Meloni, Bruno Vespa (handle)
The mobilization could, on the contrary, find support in the opposition, as has already happened several times. Eight hours of stoppages and local demonstrations will accompany the general strike while politicians begin to imagine changes to the budget law which, for now, seem to concern cryptocurrencies and the introduction of accounting representatives in companies that obtain public aid. They will arrive with the amendments by November 11th with the aim of closing the maneuver before Christmas.
Participants in the national CGIL and UIL demonstration for health and safety in the workplace (Handle)
But the themes of the changes seem really distant from those of the general strike, the fourth consecutive one by CGIL and UIL against the maneuver: they did it in December 2021 when the Draghi government was in place, and then in December 2022 and November 2023 with the government Melons. Now again at the end of November.
The platform is a slew of criticism of taxes, wages and pensions, healthcare, safety at work. There is a request to change the maneuver which does not solve the country’s problems and, according to the unions, “is leading it to collapse”. We say no to cuts and ask for an increase in purchasing power, the financing of healthcare, education, public services and industrial policies. Must take “the money where it is”: extra profits, income and great wealth, tax evasion. Confirmation of the tax wedge cut is therefore not sufficient.
“Two far-left unions are striking against the salary increase for 14 million employees with an income of up to 40 thousand euros?”, says the League. The prime minister also responds by talking about “reduction of precarious employment, increase in wages”, cutting the wedge and money for the lowest incomes, increase in female employment and 3.6 billion taken from the banks.
Salvini in Pontida, 6 October 2024 (Handle)
Therefore, the summons to Palazzo Chigi for Tuesday 5 November may not be enough. The hearings in the Chamber begin on Monday the 4th, closing on the 7th with the Minister of Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti. A call considered late and which risks being only “an information”, they still attack Landini and Bombardieri who see very little room for change and obviously – says the Uil leader – they are ready to review the strike decision if the government were to accept the proposals .
Luigi Sbarra during the national Automotive sector event, Rome (HANDLE)
On the contrary, the opinion of the CISL, which with the leader Luigi Sbarra highlights the positive points: a large part of the 30 billion of the maneuver is concentrated on “interventions consistent with our requests”.
There’s no shortage of sparkles with Maurizio Landini. The words of the leader of the CGIL started her: “If other organizations think that the task is to always tell the government ‘how good and beautiful you are’, I instead think that the interests of the workers must be protected”. Words that “offend” the CISL, replies Sbarra, advising it “to take on the role of a trade unionist and stop acting as a driving force for a political opposition that doesn’t need collateralism”.
