Italy * CGIL: an alternative strategy for the union This is the month of the preparatory meetings for the forthcoming congress of the Italian General Labour Confederation (CGIL). This text is the introduction to the document proposed by the left current Alternativa sindacale (Union Alternative), which builds on the Essere sindacato (Union Way) movement. It argues for reintroduction of the mobile salary scale, a 35 hour week without reduction of salary, 32 hour week for shift work, and intransigent defence of social security and workers' rights.
An economic model which cancels values, destroys regions, and increases the imbalance between the north and south is imposing itself on this country. Some parts of the north are dominated by a model of production without rights or rules. In the south, entire generations are excluded from work. And a series of very dangerous forms of intervention are being proposed. The risk to be generalised across Italy. We propose, the strategic goal of a politico-social struggle against this state of affairs. A state of affairs which the Italian trade unions, notably the CGIL, accepted when they signed the 31 July 1992 and 23 July 1993 accords which abolished the mobile salary scale. Or in 1995, when they accepted an agreement on retirement pensions. The unions have accepted economic compatibility, submitting themselves to the existing political framework. These accords, particularly the agreement on old age pensions, were opposed by workers and the trade union membership. Those CGIL leaders and members who opposed the accord are proposing a document to this, our Eighth Congress, so that we can continue the political battle which has already started. This Congress will evaluate our strategy and our demands of the last few years. We propose an alternative, radically different strategy. The agreement on wage policy has not ensured the defence of salaries. Instead, it has reduced the contractual autonomy of the unions. The agreement on retirement pensions, rejected by a large number of workers and senior citizens, is inspired by the same logic. It weakens our rights, and makes the welfare state even more vulnerable. The country is going through a serious democratic and institutional crisis. In this framework, massive privatisations have taken place. Enormous riches and power have been concentrated in the hands of a small number of people. The living conditions of millions of workers and retired people have deteriorated. This makes it necessary to redirect our programme and strategy, by rejecting the demands of recent years, which were subordinated to the imperatives of the current economic and social model.
This has had the result of weakening, dividing and tearing apart the workers' movement.
We must rebuild a movement of struggle. A strong, generalised, unitary initiative aiming to readjust salaries and other revenue, and reintroduce a mechanism for a mobile salary scale. We should define a platform which raises the question of working time, in a framework of generalised reduction of the working week. We should defend the welfare state and relaunch an adequate, public social security system. We should raise the question of a different, balanced development model. Subordinate, manual labour has suffered a social and material marginalisation. Its revaluation should be one of the main elements of any future contractual campaign. These policies (different development, an autonomous and efficient public service, and a fair tax system) should be based on a network of democratic power, supervision and participation. Which means relaunching local autonomous authorities, and regionalism. These are the essential points for rebuilding a mass movement and relaunching the CGIL as a wide social subject, committed to a change. This is the proposition for which we invite the support of the membership. To give back to the CGIL a class struggle, conflict dimension. As a democratic, confederal union. *
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