Italian unions as one on new bargaining framework 


Italy’s three main union confederations, CGIL, CISL and UIL, have unanimously agreed their proposals for a new framework for collective bargaining and employee involvement. 


Adopted on 14 January, it calls for Italy’s system of collective bargaining to be strengthened and extended, with a continued key role for industry-level agreements. The document suggests that these should not simply, as at present, take account of inflation, so as to maintain workers’ purchasing power, but should also be affected by macroeconomic developments and the growth prospects of the industries concerned. 


The unions reject the idea of a national minimum wage. Instead, they want to ensure legal provisions making industry-level agreements universally applicable are enforced. They are also calling for employee representation in company supervisory boards, so that they can influence company plans.


The main employers’ confederation, CONFINDUSTRIA, has already rejected the proposals. However, after many years when the unions have been divided on these issues, the fact that all three confederations have reached a common position is a significant development.