First of May, Landini: Befana bonus an electoral token. Sbarra: important government measures, but now do more

The Befana bonus 'is a commercial, an electoral stunt. It is there for all to see that people do not make ends meet, there are more than 7 million people who, despite working, are poor. To think that all this is resolved by giving 100 euro gross in January and to a limited number of people I think is an insult to common sense'. From the trade unions' square for the First of May in Monfalcone (Gorizia), starts the attack of CGIL secretary general Maurizio Landini. "This does not solve the problems. We need a different policy, but the government continues to think it can do what it wants without confronting the unions, with the world of work, and this is detrimental to the country'. More generally, according to Landini, 'we need to put work, people's rights, fight and overcome precariousness, increase wages back at the centre'. And then the issue of safety at work, with 'accidents and deaths occurring mainly in the contract and subcontracting system and involving more precarious workers. We need to change the development model and change the wrong, crazy laws that there are in the country'.

The recent decisions of Palazzo Chigi are read differently at Cisl. "The reorganisation on the management of Cohesion funds is important, it goes in the direction desired by the Cisl. We appreciate the strong support for stable employment through incentives for young people, women, and the South. Also the measure of 100 euro to be paid in January is a further contribution to support the incomes of the working class. Now more needs to be done," says Secretary General Luigi Sbarra. "I would not speak of divisions but of different sensitivities," is the comment when the relations between his organisation and the CGIL are evoked. Nevertheless, 'it is necessary to increase wages and salaries and renew all public and private contracts, cut taxes for the middle class, deduct 13th month payments, relaunch public and private investments, open the table to change the social security system. The dialogue and confrontation with the government must continue in order to tackle the most important issues more decisively,' Sbarra added, also returning to call for 'a structural cut in the tax wedge'.

"We must stop this long trail of bloodshed at work, build the conditions for a national strategy, for a great pact of responsibility that brings together politics, the business system, trade unions, local authorities". For the CISL secretary general, 'the issue of health and safety must remain the great priority to be addressed and resolved'.

"Structural measures are needed, it would be a good idea to put an end to adverts and electoral interventions. The issue of wages cannot be addressed with a 60 euro net spot, which is enough for a kilo of meat, a kilo of parmesan, a litre of oil. People need to recover the loss of purchasing power'. The secretary general of Uil, Pierpaolo Bombardieri, returns to Monfalcone on the government's latest measures and the 100 euro bonus that will be granted next January, renamed the Befana bonus. 'There is an issue of wages and pensions, which by the way are excluded from the bonus. We need different choices: de-taxing contractual increases, confirming the cut in the tax wedge, giving money to companies that renew contracts and do not have accidents at work'.

The national demonstration of CGIL, CISL and UIL to celebrate the First of May this year is dedicated to Europe. 'Let us build together a Europe of peace, work and social justice', is in fact the slogan chosen by the three confederal unions, in the square with their general secretaries. This year, therefore, the city of Friuli Venezia Giulia hosted the traditional trade union meeting for Workers' Day, 20 years after the first of May that in 2004 saw the united demonstration in Gorizia on the occasion of the EU enlargement with the entry of ten new countries, including neighbouring Slovenia. In the afternoon, the other traditional appointment with the Concertone in Rome, which this time will make its debut at the Circo Massimo, as it cannot be held in Piazza San Giovanni due to the Jubilee celebrations.