The field season of the renewal of the contracts of the credit sector concluded yesterday with the renewal of the contract of bank managers. The national collective bargaining agreement of the 7 Italian bank executives represents a notable achievement for the unions who have obtained the maintenance of the minimum table of the previous contract and of the severance pay calculation system.
Maurice Arena, assistant secretary First Cisl and national coordinator of DirFirst, a union to which 80% of bank executives belong, explains to us that the agreement signed yesterday "is not related to a contract of conquest but of protection".
How do you define the executives' contract signed yesterday in Abi?
I think the contract signed yesterday is absolutely balanced. It is not a contract of conquest, given the times, but rather of protection since the renewal was not taken for granted. Of protection because everything remains unchanged (there are no increases or decreases). Some bankers were not inclined to collective bargaining and preferred individual bargaining but in the end an agreement was found for the renewal by strengthening the guarantee fund for redundant workers which is very important for stimulating employment.
Two contracts in a few months for the unions in the sector, mission accomplished?
The balance is positive otherwise we would not have signed the two contracts and it must be emphasized that the two renewals represent continuity in logical terms given that in both cases the desire to maintain protections both for the lower professional areas and for the senior executives.
The season of bank mergers is upon us and the Popolari are at the forefront. More new redundancies in sight?
On our part, there is a lot of concern in view of this upcoming season of mergers since we are talking about a sector that has already lost a total of 5 employees in the last 6-40 years. In 2016 there will be an acceleration with the process of mergers of popular companies and our fear is that a new wave of redundancies will arrive, not only for lower qualifications but also among executives.
Finally, remaining on the subject of the Reform of the popular companies, what is your position on the hypothesis of the entry of groups of workers into the capital and on the board of directors of the popular companies?
Look, for us at First it's a workhorse. We absolutely agree and workers need to be included in the company's decision-making processes. For us it is a fundamental aspect also because it serves to rebalance the dynamics within the company.
