From Generali to Unipol, insurers are asking for 330 euros more per month and one hour less work per week

In the coming months, in addition to the major corporate transactions, the insurance companies, from Generali to Allianz, Zurich, up to Unipol (which continues to apply the Ania contract despite having left the association) will have to find a way to close the renewal of the national collective labour contract for the 48,000 employees that expired at the end of 2024. The trade unions (First, Uilca, Fisac, Fna and Snfia) have defined a claim platform where, for the 2025-2027 contractual term, they ask for a monthly increase of 330 euro for the average figure, i.e. the fourth level, seventh class. In addition to this, the unions demand an increase of a similar percentage to that of the increase of the minimums of all those economic items of an indemnity or modal nature provided for in the contract regulations, excluding the items where the demands of the platform are higher. On health care, moreover, in the platform the unions demand an adjustment of all ceilings in the same percentage as the increases provided for in the economic tables and an updating of benefits in the light of the progress of official medicine and diagnostic tools.

In the document, the trade unions write that 'in recent years, the insurance sector has achieved very high levels of profitability, accelerated the processes of digitalisation, and seen a growing relevance in the national economic system, also in relation to the management of systemic risks, complementary social security, and the protection of citizens. However, in the face of this positive trend, workers in the sector have not benefited from a corresponding economic recognition, capable of reflecting the value of their activity, the increasing commitment required and the rising cost of living'. The economic demand aims to bridge this gap at a time of persistent inflation, erosion of purchasing power and a generalised rise in the cost of living.

Alongside the economic request is also the request for a reduction of one hour per week, without prejudice to the distribution of working time over five days, since, the trade unions write, 'in advanced countries, a corporate organisational model is increasingly affirming itself in which the reduction of working time is a central element of bargaining not only for the reconciliation of life and work times, but also as an important anticipatory factor of the impact that the introduction of AI in business processes may have. In this contract renewal, our sector cannot disregard a serious reflection on this issue', also with a view to guaranteeing employment levels in the sector and improving work-life balance.

In addition to economic recognition, which is at the heart of the union platform that will soon reach Ania to define a negotiating agenda, there are numerous other chapters that envisage an improvement in workers' conditions and greater equity among workers in the sector. For the contact centres, for example, there is the request to complete the economic equalization to the 3rd administrative level of the operation - today there is a difference of 5% - but also the strengthening of the tables with the equalization of seniority classes to the operation table (from 7 to 12 classes), or the strengthening of the remuneration of team coordinators with the recognition of the 5th economic level.

In addition, for the contract, the unions are asking Ania to take joint action with all the competent authorities and the agents' associations to initiate a comparison aimed at creating a single national contract valid for all those who work in freely managed agencies. For this, however, a commitment is needed from the companies so that future agency mandates include the obligation for agents to apply for their employees a national contract signed by the unions that signed the Ania contract, namely First, Fisac, Uilca, Fna and Snfia. A further element of improvement is the request for harmonisation of the Ex Aisa and Ania contracts, in line with the path begun in 2018 and continued in 2022, which is part of a more overall request for the unification of the various contracts applied to workers in the sector, in consideration of the fact that the workers of the assistance companies, despite the peculiarity of working on 24-hour shifts for the employees of the Operations Centres, carry out a job that is in all respects similar to that of those who work in the directorates to which the Ania contract is applied.