The renewal of the 2022-2024 contract for the Central Functions sector, which involves approximately 195,000 employees between ministries, tax agencies and non-economic public bodies such as INPS and INAIL, marks a phase of tension and division among the unions. Signed at Aran, the agreement obtained the consent of Cisl-Fp and the autonomous unions Confsal Unsa, Flp and Confintesa Fp, but was rejected by Fp-Cgil and Uil-Pa, creating a significant fracture in the union landscape. The agreement provides for an average pay increase of 165 euros per month for thirteen months and introduces the possibility of a short working week of four days, while maintaining the 36-hour week.
The general secretaries of Fp-Cgil and Uil-Pa, Serena Sorrentino and Sandro Colombi, expressed strong disappointment regarding the agreement. They underlined how the government and Aran chose to interrupt a negotiation still in progress, leaving room for improvement.
“This decision represents a forced move”, commented the union leaders, highlighting that a meeting at Palazzo Chigi was expected to also discuss the problems of the public sectors. Maurizio Landini, general secretary of the Cgil, has launched an appeal for social mobilization. During a meeting in Milan he stated that living and working conditions must return to the center of the political agenda. He announced the general strike scheduled for November 29, calling it the beginning of a broader battle to improve not only the budget law but also the general conditions of the country.
The political reaction was not long in coming. Tommaso Foti, leader of the Brothers of Italy group in the Chamber, harshly criticized Landini for his statements on the social revolt. He suggested that such statements could be considered a crime and questioned the credibility of the union leader after a significant increase in his salary. This complex situation highlights the tensions that exist in the Italian public sector and raises questions about the future of trade union negotiations. The division among trade unions could have significant repercussions on future policies regarding labor and workers' rights in the Italian context. The central question remains whether the actors involved will be able to find common ground to address future challenges in a constructive way.
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