Italian unions consider joint action on pensions

Italy's three major union confederations seem to be taking a more unified attitude towards the government of Silvio Berlusconi, after being divided for months in their approach.

At a summit last month the general secretaries of all three agreed to ask the government for urgent meetings on two topics - public finances and pensions. If the response of the government is unsatisfactory the unions will move to joint action.

The government promised to hold discussions with the unions in July but these never took place. Instead over the summer the different parties in the government alliance came forward with varying proposals, particularly on pensions.

Most recently economics minister Giulio Tremonti called for a reform of the system so that by 2008 everyone must either have made 40 years of pensions contributions or be aged 65 before they can receive a pension. At present it is possible to get a service-related pension after only 37 years of pensions' contributions (35 if you are aged over 57).

The unions reject worsening pensions in this way, arguing that the changes already introduced by the Dini government 1995 are sufficient. Savino Pezzotta, general secretary of the second largest confederation, CISL, said: "I don't understand the reason for an intervention on service-related pensions by 2008". He pointed out that the Dini reform provided for a review of the situation in 2005 and said that "that is the only time to judge whether further interventions are necessary or not".