The future of industrial relations in Italy is closely linked to the outcome of the table, still ongoing, between Confindustria and the trade unions. In fact, the stakes are very high: during the meeting the rules on trade union representation and the enforceability of the agreements are being discussed. Confindustria president Emma Marcecaglia and the general secretaries of CGIL, CISL and UIL, Susanna Camusso, Raffaele Bonanni and Luigi Angeletti, are taking part in the negotiations, which according to expectations could already close today with a unitary agreement.
After the separate agreement of 22 January 2009, the unity between the three confederal acronyms could therefore return. In fact, yesterday, Susanna Camusso obtained from the CGIL executive committee the mandate to continue the negotiation and, if the conditions are right, to close it. The secretary of the Corso Italia trade union gave a positive evaluation of "the scheme proposed by Confindustria" as he confirms "the two contractual levels, not providing for the alternative between the national contract and the second level contract". However, Camusso received the opposition of the internal minority, mainly represented by Maurizio Landini's blue-collar workers. According to the Fiom leader, it is "a mandate in sight unseen and managed too hastily", not in accordance with the "will for democracy that is emerging in the factories and in the political scenario".
However, optimism remains for the outcome of the negotiations. Raffaele Bonanni, arriving at the meeting, stated that “the spirit is positive. I hope for a breakthrough that will make everyone more responsible. A unitary agreement would strengthen the link between the confederal organizations”. Luigi Angeletti is also on the same wavelength. “We have good expectations. We aim for a unified signature. We have always been optimistic." Emma Marcecaglia also underlined the importance of the meeting. "At a time when politics is divided and there are tensions on the markets, I believe we must work together to find unity".
The points at the center of the negotiation are numerous and complex. We need to define a calculation system for the representativeness of trade unions on a national basis, discuss the enforceability and effectiveness of the company contract once approved by the majority of the union representatives and redesign the contractual model. It is probably around this last point that the greatest difficulties are concentrated: the aim is to maintain the two levels, without however making the company contract and the national one alternative. We are therefore in the final rush of this match, the outcome of which will be decisive for the fate of our industrial relations system.
