The celebrations of the May Day cannot be an empty liturgy but, on the contrary, an opportunity to give new impetus to union activity. How? He talks about it in this interview with FIRSTonline Marco Bentivogli, unquestionably the best Italian trade unionist of the second decade of the 21st century as leader of the Fim-Cisl and today as yesterday a volcano of ideas. Just and lasting peace and democracy as preconditions for development, a structural tax exemption for work and a European unemployment pillar linked to real active labor policies and then the minimum wage and a “contemporary” contractual model are the cornerstones of his thinking. And again: the referendum on the Jobs Act “would not solve the real problem” of giving certainty of rights to workers and businesses while it is time to think about a “Workers’ Statute 4.0”. It would be enough to implement 10% of Bentivogli’s innovative ideas to restore lustre to union action. Let’s hear it.
Bentivogli, this year's May Day has to deal with two unresolved wars, with Trumpism reigning supreme and with an international and national economic scenario that does not promise anything good: what should be, in your opinion, the compass of the unions to face the difficulties of the moment?
“True, just and lasting peace and democracy are the preconditions for development. The ongoing Russian offensive in north-eastern Ukraine and the rekindling of the fronts in Sumy demonstrate that the war is far from over. South of the Mediterranean, negotiations on the ceasefire in Gaza take one step forward and two steps back, but remain the only way to stop the massacre of civilians. We must govern and not suffer the 'Trumpian turn' of the world economy that will have negative effects on workers (including American ones). The new US tariffs on manufacturing have pushed the IMF to cut global growth by 2025 to 2,8%. The European trade union must demand a common industrial policy on technological innovation, generation of technologies and skills and transfer to workers and businesses on digital transformation, AI, energy, chips, batteries and short supply chains, raw and critical materials instead of closing themselves in impotent neo-protectionism. It is a shame that European countries, alongside ReArm Eu, are responding in no particular order. And it is a shame that the American union has not learned the uselessness of protectionism. With inflation still above the ECB target, we need structural tax relief on labor and a European pillar of unemployment benefits linked to real active labor policies, financed with the remaining Next Generation Eu funds”.
If employment in Italy is showing signs of improvement, this is not the case for wages, which – as President Mattarella also recalled – remain among the lowest in Europe: isn't it time for unions to wake up and promote a new season of bargaining to improve not only the lowest wages but also those of the intermediate bands of the world of work, with an eye obviously on productivity and innovation in the organization of work?
“We have a record employment rate in our history (62,8%). Over 24 million employed. But many points below the European average especially for women and young people. The data show us an active population that is growing but aging. In the last 20 years, the over 50s in work have doubled (due to the arrival of pension reforms that have extended the time spent in work) and due to the de-youthening of the Italian population. On wages, we need intelligent answers and tools. We need a minimum wage, well done, for low-income jobs. And for wage growth we need to address the issues of productivity (Public Administration inefficiency, corporate dwarfism, poor adoption of technologies, very low average skills) and rebuild a contractual model that is at least 'contemporary'. Immediately reopen negotiations on expired contracts, recovering inflation. Our contractual model has not withstood the 2022-2024 inflation surges: too many national contracts not renewed and an average renewal time of more than 24 months. Exempt from tax increases and performance bonuses: each euro of 'second level' salary must cost less than one euro of a salary table. Implement, especially for small businesses or areas with a high cost of living, territorial bargaining. Even decentralized bargaining does not grow, let's not confuse it with agreements stamped at a territorial level to grant tax relief. We need smart indexing of productivity with transparent indicators even in SMEs. Supply chain bargaining for contracts and platforms is urgently needed, where poor work is concentrated. The subjective right to training must be extended everywhere: more skills = more added value = more salary + contractual stability”.
This year's May Day is also crossed by the loose cannon of the referendum against the Jobs Act promoted by Landini's Cgil: what is your orientation on the matter?
“I respect the democratic push. I do not believe that the crisis of representation (which concerns everyone) can be overcome by reversing roles. The parties of the center-left have literally outsourced labor issues to the CGIL. The latter, instead of worrying about this disinterest, has seized it as an opportunity. Political and social representation are of a different nature and cannot be regained by mixing functions and initiatives. Contracts are a very serious issue, as are safety and layoffs. But the totem of the Jobs Act has little to do with the latter. The repeal of the little that remains of that measure would bring into play the previous legislation modified by the interventions of the Constitutional Court. For this reason, we need Parties that seriously deal with labor, because the referendum would not solve the real problem: the rules are contradictory, stratified and complicated, the right mix to not give certainty of rights to workers or businesses but a lot of work to lawyers. We are the Republic with the certainty of litigation. With rights and duties so unclear that they are unenforceable for the majority of workers. For this reason it is a shame that even a referendum on labor issues has more the flavor of an infinite 'showdown on the left' incapable of making multiple cultures coexist within it.
And what would be the right path, in your opinion?
“The way forward is a 'Workers' Statute 4.0' that: clarifies the countless contradictions of the dismissal discipline, maintains reinstatement for discrimination and manifestly unfounded dismissals; extends protections to platform work and economically dependent self-employed workers; introduces a universal right to continuous training; promotes worker participation in boards and ESG committees. We need a decalogue of social rights for all workers regardless of their contract (employee/self-employed, full time/part time). May Day is not just a memory: it is a permanent construction site for the future”.
