Italian graphical workers accept delayed three-stage pay deal

Unions have reached a settlement on pay increases for the around 150,000 employees in the Italian graphical industry after months of negotiations.

The deal, signed on 31 May, came 14 months after the end of the previous agreement. The new settlement provides for a three-stage increase of €110 on the benchmark grade, which the union, SLC, estimates as being worth 6.5% over the three years of the agreement, from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2013.

The first rise, equivalent to 2.1%, is in July this year, followed by an increase of 2.3% in January 2012 and 2.1% in January 2013. Inflation in Italy was running at 2.6% in May.

In addition, workers in the industry get a lump-sum payment to cover the period without an increase, worth €362.66 for those on the benchmark grade, paid in July 2011 and February 2012.

In contrast to other industries, where unions have failed to reach a common agreement, unions from all three main Italian union confederations signed the graphical deal.