The truce is over. From the Florence Palasport, Maurizio Landini challenges the government : a general strike on December 12th against a budget bill he calls "unfair and wrong." Wages, healthcare, and pensions are on the table, but a political battle is also erupting in the background, with Meloni and Salvini attacking the CGIL leader, accusing him of choosing "Friday to take a long weekend."
"They should change the plan, not us the strike date," Landini replied sharply from the stage, sparking applause from the delegates.
It's a direct response to the prime minister's ironic remarks: "What day will December 12th fall on?" she wrote on social media, adding a puzzled emoji and the sarcasm of the Northern League deputy prime minister: "Landini should give up the long weekend at least once."
In his speech in Florence, the CGIL secretary took aim at the Meloni government's budget law : "The fundamental emergency today is wages. We need to increase them, but this budget doesn't do that." He then made his demands: more resources for the renewal of public contracts, extended tax relief for all workers, a refund of the fiscal drag, and investment in public healthcare, "because six million people can no longer afford treatment."
Landini also relaunched the idea of a 1% solidarity contribution on large assets exceeding two million euros: "We're talking about 500,000 people, who could guarantee €26 billion for healthcare, education, and salaries."
The CGIL secretary spoke of "a widespread mobilization, in workplaces and cities," to explain the reasons for the strike to citizens: "They're trying to make us talk about the day, not the merit. But we're not afraid. If you have temporary employment, if you can't make it to the end of the month, if your pension isn't enough, what else do you have to lose?"
The choice of December 12th—which falls on a Friday—has become the pretext for a new political tug-of-war. Giorgia Meloni and Matteo Salvini joke about "union bridges," Landini retorts harshly : "I understand that those who have never been on strike can't understand what lies behind a day of struggle: those who work give up a day's wages, not a weekend vacation."
Meanwhile, December is also shaping up to be a hot one for transportation, with protests and local shutdowns already announced in several cities, from Palermo to Milan and Latina.
(Unioneonline/Fr.Me.)