Government goes ahead with militarisation of forestry workers

(November 2016) Thousands of workers in the forestry service have launched legal actions opposing their loss of rights resulting from the militarisation of the service. The trade unions are combining this with their continuing campaign against the change. They argue that 7000 workers will lose their civilian status and full trade union rights. But the unions are also concerned about the impact on services as a result of the underminging of the wealth of expertise and professionalism that guarantees environmental and food safety.

With no response to their demands from the government, the health workers’ strike planned for 16 February went ahead. EPSU sent a message of solidarity. The health unions are calling on the government to stick to its commitment to negotiate on pay levels and job rankings that was part of an agreement signed last year. The unions want to see pay levels across the health sector adjusted to ensure fairness across the public sector and are protesting at the government’s unilateral decision to negotiate a separate pay rise for doctors and dentists.

(January 2017) In December forestry workers took to the streets demanding a delay in their forced transfer to the carabinieri police force. The transfer will deny them the right to strike. The government has not only gone ahead and abolished the state forestry service but has failed to respond to formal requests by hundreds of workers to be transferred to other parts of the public administration. The FP CGIL trade union is continuing to defend the workers through campaigning and legal action.