Fact Service October 2021

Issue 41

Neo-fascists attack Italian trade union

Italy’s CGIL union has spoken out after its Rome headquarters was besieged by a mob of anti-vaxxers that included neo-fascist attackers.

The Reuters news agency reported that police used water cannon and tear gas against demonstrators protesting against a government drive to make the Covid-19 "green pass" mandatory for all workers.

One group of attackers reportedly tried to break through police lines to reach prime minister Mario Draghi's office, while another one attempted to smash its way into the union’s HQ.

"The assault on CGIL's national headquarters is an act of fascist thuggery, an attack on democracy and on the world of work," the union’s leader Maurizio Landini stated. "No-one should think that they can return our country to its fascist past."

International union confederations the ETUC and ITUC made statements of sympathy with the CGIL.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italian-police-use-water-cannon-push-back-anti-vax-protesters-rome-2021-10-09

https://www.etuc.org/en/pressrelease/attacks-cgil-headquarters-rome-message-sent-etuc-general-secretary-luca-visentini-cgil