Unions mobilise in ministries of justice

Following their national protest on 22 November, the FSC-CCOO, FesP-UGT and other unions in the Ministry of Justice have taken further action to support their demand for negotiations around the law on organizational efficiency in the justice service. They want to ensure protection of the pay and working conditions of civil servants. The unions are concerned about the impact on jobs, careers and opportunities for promotion and the level of services to citizens. The unions organised actions at Ministry of Justice offices around the country and have not ruled out strike action if there is no

The FSC-CCOO and FeSP-UGT public service federations organised a rally outside the Ministry of Justice against proposals that would change the rules on worker mobility. The unions are particularly angry that the amendments have been introduced in parliament without following the correct procedure. They say that if implemented the rules would significantly reduce workers' rights and mean that they could be forced to move to jobs on much lower pay levels. The unions will also use the protest to highlight some of the many other pay and conditions problems that the Ministry has failed to negotiate

The three public service federations – Fp Cgil, Cisl Fp and Uil Pa – organised two days of protests on 13 and 14 October in Naples, Milan and Rome. The mobilisation was about the crisis facing the justice sector with serious staffing shortages and excessive workloads, compounded by inadequate facilities and equipment. The unions argue that workers have been left out of the justice debate as politicians focus on legal reform while ignoring the situation facing the staff who are supposed to uphold and implement the law. Further mobilisations are planned if there is no response from the minister