The embers of the two general strikes that took place in recent weeks continue to burn, with the workers of the Ligurian capital’s port at the forefront, among others. To the pointed letter from the president of the Terminal Operators section of Confindustria Genoa, Luca Becce, Filt Cgil had responded with an equally heated tone, as reported by SHIPPING ITALY. Now, for the Confindustria manager, a former rugby player, it seems to be the moment for a sort of ‘third half’.
What remains to be clarified, Becce?
“I believe it’s best to put it on a constructive level. As the former president of Assiterminal and previously head of industrial relations, I led the employers’ delegation for four renewals of the CCNL. It has always seemed to me, since July 2000, to be a great instrument. And it seems to me that, in light of the characteristics of the contract – port workers are the category with the highest prevalence of decentralized bargaining, the best wage levels in the industrial sector if one considers the double level (which covers 98% of those under contract) and the highest rate of permanent contracts –, the counterpart can also consider itself, and does consider itself, satisfied.”
And how does this connect with the strikes for Gaza?
“It connects because the proclamation in open violation of the CCNL, repeated twice in two weeks and despite a first informal notice from us, is a unique case in 25 years. Is it worth jeopardizing such a contract for a dynamic of the conflict that is truly poor in union content? To avoid being outflanked on the left?”
What do you mean?
“The problem was that the Cgil was frightened by the consensus it attributed to the initiatives adopted by autonomous and antagonistic unions. A mistaken reading in my opinion, however, because the following of the demonstrations against the ongoing massacre in Gaza does not pertain to union dialectics; it is useless and harmful to think of ‘competing’ with other unions on this, even going so far as to violate the CCNL.”
However, the Cgil maintains that the lack of prior notice is provided for, referring to the passage in the CCNL that contemplates it in case of a constitutional violation.
“It’s an interpretation that we absolutely do not share: how many international crises have there been from 2000 to today? And how many strikes motivated by them? At the very least, faced with such a stretched interpretation, one should have at least consulted with the other subscribing parties, not proceeded unilaterally in an arbitrary manner. What is happening in Gaza deserves the utmost attention and the sensitivity of the workers is an important signal, but it does not concern union dynamics and a very efficient and satisfactory contract for all, which must be safeguarded with full respect from each of the parties.”
A.M.
