After a long negotiation lasting over sixteen months, a very successful general strike, demonstrations and demonstrations in front of the companies, in the early hours of Thursday 18 May 2017 between the business associations Anfida, Igas, Anigas, Confindustria-Energia, Utilitalia-Confservizi and the Filctem- Cgil, Femca-Cisl, Uiltec-Uil the hypothesis of agreement was signed for the renewal of the 2016-2018 contract in the gas-water sector (over 48.000 workers involved, employed by around 600 companies), which expired on 31 December 2015.
The signed agreement provides for an overall average increase (minimums, productivity, welfare) of 89 euros. The average increase (5th level – parameter 139,96) on the minimum of 68 euros is distributed in two tranches: from 1 May 2017, 40 euros; from 1 April 2018, 28 euros, consolidating the three-year duration of the contract.
An element of the contractual novelty is the use of productivity quotas (11 euros for 14 months' salaries referring to 2017, plus another 11 euros for 14 months' salaries in 2018, in addition to the company bonuses in the two-year period 2017-2018). The total amount of increase in minimum wages and productivity is 1576 euros.
In June 2019, a check will be carried out on the deviation in the inflation rate: if the figure is equal to or higher than that set at the time of signing the renewal (2,7%) the minimums will be adjusted. If, on the other hand, it is lower, an adjustment will be made on the minimums of a percentage of the value of the deviation, while the remaining quota will be stabilized on the productivity bonus. The adjustment of the minimums will take effect from 1 January 2019.
Increases are also foreseen on supplementary healthcare (5 euros) starting from 1 January 2017 and on predecease (5 euros) starting from 1 January 2018. "This agreement finally concludes - say the general secretaries of Filctem, Femca, Uiltec, Emilio Miceli, Angelo Colombini, Paolo Pirani - the process of renewing contracts in the energy sector (gas-water, electricity, energy and oil, ed.) in defense of workers' income and contractual welfare. A balanced model – they underline – capable of combining the indispensable defense of purchasing power with the distribution of productivity, an important signal at the federal level of novelties on contractual lines”.
Some innovative elements in the field of regulations: from industrial relations, in which the gas-water "perimeter" is maintained, with the extension of the transport, storage, regasification and personnel activities of the multi-service holdings; to the labor market, where the professionalizing apprenticeship tool is valued as a form of job placement for young people, with the confirmation of the employment stabilization clause of 82% of the apprenticeship contracts carried out in the previous three-year period.
An important novelty comes from the gas tenders: finally, as per the agreements recently signed with the Ministry of Economic Development, the social clause is inserted in the contract - with a specific rule - to safeguard the employment rights of the workers who are involved in the tenders for the acquisition of gas distribution in the local areas.
Lastly, on the issue of rights, the current system of protections provided for by the contract regarding the progressiveness and proportionality of disciplinary sanctions is confirmed. The stipulated agreement - the unions say - will be jointly and immediately submitted to the approval of the workers' assemblies.
