Over a thousand protesters from across Sardinia, called by the CGIL, CISL, and UIL, gathered outside the Regional Council building in Cagliari to demand approval for a single pay system, meaning equal pay for regional and local government employees.
A union delegation led by Assembly President Piero Comandini and all the group leaders.
The proposal for the implementation of the single sector has already received approval from the Autonomy Committee. However, it was awaiting additional funding requested by the Third Committee from the Budget Department, which only arrived today. This additional funding should save the law from a potential government challenge.
The finalized proposal will be brought to the floor next week.
The failure to implement the Single Sector scheme is leading to the emigration of municipal employees to the regional system. In practice, emphasizes Alessandro Pischedda of Uil Fpl, "especially in smaller towns, local authorities are emptying."
"We expected the bill to be passed in the Chamber last week," adds Paola Sarigu, head of the Fp Cisl union. "We mustn't close down or abolish municipalities because they no longer have employees. We want to be able to guarantee and maintain services for citizens, from social services for the elderly to maintenance. The professionalism of all those who work in local government, even the smallest ones, must be safeguarded."
Regarding today's demonstration, Eugenio Meloni of Fp Cgil explains, "the assembly was supposed to involve Cagliari, but then it expanded to the whole of Sardinia, and there was a broad, united response."