CGIL and UIL in the streets: the government gives answers on safety at work, health and wages

Cgil and Uil took to the streets again: they attacked the government and demanded a change of register and answers on labour and security, public health, taxation and wages.

Ten days after their last strike together, the two unions are back on the streets in Rome to say 'Enough is enough'. Enough with deaths at work, precariousness and amnesties. The general secretaries Maurizio Landini and Pierpaolo Bombardieri do so from the procession through the streets of the capital and from the stage: at least 50 thousand, according to their estimates, in the square. And they assure that they are ready to move forward, to obtain results. "From the square comes the message of the real country, given that they are telling lies, regimenting and trying to control everything: listen to the world of work, which keeps the country on its feet and can't take it anymore", says Landini. Who then accuses 'the government and the right wing who want to build a regime', 'they want to command rather than govern'. And on the stop to writer Antonio Scurati's monologue on 25 April: "Allow me a pun," he says, "it has been obscured".

Bombardieri also speaks of 'a real country that is suffering, that has difficulty making ends meet and using health services'. Difficulties that the two trade union leaders represent by bringing in a series of numbers: 6 million poor people, 5 million workers with expired contracts, 4 and a half million people who give up healthcare. And then on another number they point even more: to arrive at 'zero deaths' at work. Stopping a daily massacre, which requires more incisive measures, including the introduction of the crime of murder at work. On the tax front, they call for a 'fair' tax because, they repeat, it is always the same people who pay: employees and pensioners. "Make those who have never paid them pay. Of course it is complicated if you keep on making amnesties,' Bombardieri repeats.

He does not fail to lunge against differentiated autonomy "a pure madness", Landini argues, emphasising his willingness to wage a battle "with every instrument" of democracy at his disposal. Having already initiated the four labour referendums. 'We have no intention of stopping,' he assures. Another issue is that of abortion: Landini and Bombardieri speak of a "very dangerous regression", of "the government's attack on women" and announce a presidium in front of the Senate on Tuesday 23 April, when the Pnrr decree will be examined in Palazzo Madama, to oppose the rule on the presence of pro-life associations in counselling centres and defend law 194.

The CISL is not in the square this time either. "There are different sensitivities" and there have been "other periods in which the union has had different visions, we will overcome this too. Pluralism is an asset,' Bombardieri demurred, recalling that on 1 May CGIL CISL and UIL will be together for 'a big demonstration' this year in Monfalcone (Gorizia), under the slogan 'Let's build together a Europe of peace, work and social justice'.