The nine trade union federations in the public sector have agreed that the government has failed to propose an adequate response to their key demands on pay, purchasing power and sick pay. The unions met on 26 October to discuss the next steps and agreed to boycott the plenary meeting of the public service council due to take place on 6 November. Instead, they will organise a demonstration outside the finance ministry on that day.
Unions plan next steps as government fails to deliver
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Government fails to deliver on public employment and pay
(October 2016) Despite promises of additional funding to cover public sector employment, the latest figures announced by the government are a major disappointment to all the public sector federations. FP-CGIL, CISL-FP, UIL-PA and UIL-FPL issued a joint statement that attacked the government for its short-sighted policies and failure to provide any opening for serious negotiations on pay, skills, productivity and innovation. The unions will be stepping up their mobilisation beginning with a national protest in Rome on 12 November.
Next steps to restore pay after austerity
(October 2016) The latest budget confirms government commitments to restoring some of the pay cuts introduced in 2009 and 2010 and to reduce the pensions levy also imposed as part of the austerity measures. Public sector workers are set to get a EUR 1000 pay rise in 2017 and a EUR 1000 reduction in the pensions levy. Public sector unions have welcomed the establishment of the Public Services Pay Commission as a contribution to the process of unwinding the austerity agreements and legislation covering public sector pay and conditions.
Union plans warning strikes as employers fail to make offer
The first round of negotiations covering federal and municipal workers took place on 26 February with the employers' side failing to make a concrete offer. Around a 150 public service workers provided a noisey welcoming committee to the participants, underlining their demand for a 6% pay increase, with a minimum of EUR 200 a month. Services union ver.di stressed that it would be pushing hard for the 6% rise arguing that public service workers should benefit from the current economic situation - the most positive for some 20 years. The union said it would be planning to organise warning strikes