While many governments and public sector employers across Europe imposed pay freezes or cuts as part of their austerity measures, most have now begun to normalise their collective bargaining arrangements with moves to recuperate lost pay. The Italian government is one of the few exceptions and it resolutely refuses to deal with the trade unions.
The unions argue the contribution made by 3 million public sector employees and the 700,000 who work for the private and non-profit providers or public services is not being recognised and the government is failing to invest in the skills and competencies of these workers. With much of recruitment frozen and many workers on precarious contracts, the government is putting at risk the delivery of quality services to citizens.
This government policy also fails to acknowledge the important economic contribution this large group of workers makes to the economy which badly needs a boost in domestic demand to kick-start growth.
The show of unity between the public service sector unions, with the main federations of CGIL, CSIL and UIL joined by the various federations of CONFSAL and teachers' union GILDA, shows the determination of workers to put pressure on the government.
EPSU hopes that this unified action will put pressure on the government to revise its short-sighted policy and re-start social dialogue in the public services.
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