Sardinia has once again taken to the streets today, with pharmacists striking across Italy. Since 11 a.m., hundreds of workers have been demonstrating in Via Roma, in front of the Regional Council, demanding what they call "a basic right": a contract renewal and a living wage.
The protest, promoted by Filcams Cgil, Fisascat Cisl, and Uiltucs Uil, points the finger at Federfarma, the federation of private pharmacy owners, which they accuse of refusing to discuss the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement.
This attitude was deemed "unacceptable" by the unions, especially in a country where – they recall – wages have collapsed by 7.5% in four years, the worst figure in the entire Eurozone.
"In a country where wages are sinking and incomes are rising, there are still those who refuse to renew contracts and continue to cash in on public funds," denounce regional secretaries Nella Milazzo (Filcams Cgil), Monica Porcedda (Fisascat Cisl), and Cristiano Ardau (Uiltucs Uil). "It is unacceptable to enrich oneself at the expense of workers, and even with public resources that are not redistributed among those who provide essential services every day."
According to data cited by the unions, the draft national budget includes 50 million euros earmarked for Federfarma, while its employees—over twenty thousand throughout Italy—have been waiting for years for a salary increase.
The mobilization comes at a delicate time for the sector. Starting January 1, 2026, public and private pharmacies will be fully recognized as healthcare facilities within the National Health Service (NHS): a change that, on paper, increases the role and responsibilities of pharmacists. But, the unions complain, "it increases workloads, not salaries."
Behind the counter, they explain, are professionals who often represent the only healthcare provider in small towns or neighborhoods where the public system is struggling. Yet, according to data from the Ministry of Economy, pharmacy owners remain among the highest-income groups in Italy.
Hence the unions' final appeal to citizens: "Support the protest: on November 6th, avoid non-essential purchases at pharmacies."