CGIL strike 'to change the budget law'. Zangrillo: in the public sector 20% adhesion

Helmets placed on crosses to remember those who have died at work, and a large poster with the image of the Torre dei Conti: this is the tribute dedicated to the memory of Octav Stroici, the worker who died in the collapse of the Torre dei Conti, who was trapped under the rubble for over 11 hours. The ceremony on arrival at the Fori Imperiali, where the Rome procession of the CGIL of Rome and Lazio was scheduled to close for the general strike against the government manoeuvre. A laurel wreath was laid in memory of Octav by the Fire Brigade, together with secretary Natale Di Cola, and one of the workers who survived the collapse, Gaetano La Manna.

"News coming in from over 50 cities is very positive. squares filled and factories emptied". This was said by the general secretary of the CGIL, Maurizio Landini, on the occasion of the general strike called against the government's financial manoeuvre, speaking in Florence, from the stage in Piazza del Carmine, where the regional demonstration ended.

The initiatives

'Improving the manoeuvre, building a pact': this is the title of the national demonstration that Cisl will hold tomorrow, Saturday 13 December, in Rome, in Piazza Santi Apostoli starting at 9.30 a.m. The initiative is part of the 'Path of Responsibility', the mobilisation campaign with which the confederation has travelled across the country in recent weeks to support the requests for changes to the budget law and to relaunch the 'social pact' on work, growth and cohesion. The day's programme includes speeches on stage by CISL delegates and pensioners, representing the various categories. The conclusions, late in the morning, will be entrusted to General Secretary Daniela Fumarola.

Paralysed traffic in the industrial area, with traffic literally in a standstill in the western part of the city: this is what has been happening since mid-morning in Vicenza, on the occasion of the general strike promoted today at a national level by the CGIL. The procession, which was followed at a distance by a large contingent of police forces, left around 10.00 a.m. from car park P6 at the Fiera, and then headed towards Via dell'Oreficeria and Viale della Scienza, blocking traffic in the direction of Altavilla Vicentina, the main artery leading into the city from the west. This choice was justified by the union by the fact that in the area where the protest demonstration is taking place there are several large companies, including Acciaierie Valbruna and Campagnolo, whose workers' future hangs in the balance. Local police officers are also on the scene to regulate the traffic and direct it to other roads. There were numerous inconveniences and protests from motorists stuck in traffic.

A tide of red CGIL flags in Piazza del Carmine. Then speeches from the stage and the soundtrack of Bella Ciao. Massive adhesion also in Cagliari to the general strike called by the CGIL. Still early for estimates, but many crossed their arms to say no to the budget law. Schools also participated: many pupils deserted their lessons

In Udine, a procession in which about 1,700 people took part, according to data from the Udine Police Headquarters, gathered in Piazza Venerio under the leadership of the CGIL to demand a strengthening of services and thus 'a change of course in national policy'. The demonstration was interrupted due to a serious illness suffered by a participant.

Thousands of people took to the streets in Florence to take part in the regional demonstration for the general strike called by the CGIL, with Secretary General Maurizio Landini in attendance. The procession, which crossed the city centre, started from Piazza Santa Maria Novella. There were many banners against the Meloni government's budget manoeuvre, and fake one hundred euro banknotes with the premier's face on them were also spread among the participants to say no more cuts and demand higher salaries, decent pensions, investment in public services and a stop to the arms race. There were also many Palestine flags and propal choruses chanted along the procession.
In Piazza Santa Maria Novella also the mayor of Florence, Sara Funaro. "The reasons for going on strike today and demonstrating together with the CGIL are, first of all, the linear cuts in current spending from the previous budget. We saw and announced it during the budget of the municipality of Florence more than 19 million in the three-year period, so important resources.
Then there is a lack of resources on housing, for the renovation of council houses, for the rent subsidy, there is a lack of resources for so many things that are fundamental, from welfare to so many others.

The inconvenience

An estimated 10,000 people took part in the procession in Naples for the general strike proclaimed by the union for today. In the Neapolitan capital, the demonstration took place in a procession that started from Piazza del Gesù and arrived in Piazza Municipio, where there were speeches by the delegates, by Antonio Di Costanzo, a journalist from Repubblica who read a document against the announced sale of the Gedi publishing group on behalf of his colleagues on strike, and rallies by the general secretary of the CGIL Naples and Campania, Nicola Ricci, and the confederal secretary Luigi Giove.

The adhesions, as far as Trenitalia personnel are concerned, until 6 a.m., when the guarantee band began, reached 30% among mobile personnel (train drivers and train conductors) in Campania. Line 1 of the metro was closed, the same situation at the Piscinola-Aversa metro, travel restrictions and many cancellations for the Vesuviana lines.
As far as the metalworking companies in Campania are concerned, in the province of Naples there were 80% adhesions at Marelli, San Giorgio and Lmc, 65% at Lear, 50% at Tiberina. In Benevento, total adhesion at Hanon Systems and 95% at Ficomirrors. In the province of Salerno, 79% at Sirti in Sala Consilina, 74% at Sonoco. In Caserta 90% at Italcoat, Firma and Haiki Metals, 60% at Getra Power.

Regional demonstration in Ancona on the day of the national general strike called for the entire working day by the CGIL 'against an unfair budget law'. In the capital of the Marche region, the procession departed at 10.20 a.m. from Piazza del Crocifisso (in the heart of the Archi district) to Piazza del Plebiscito (in the city centre) for the rally with speeches by the general secretary of CGIL Marche, Giuseppe Santarelli, and the national secretary of CGIL, Maria Grazia Gabrielli.
To allow the procession to pass, Via Marconi and Via XXIX Settembre in the port area were closed to traffic. Unions and workers came from all over the Marche region to protest against the manoeuvre.
Among the demands of the mobilisation, which affects all sectors, public and private, including contracting and instrumental, promoted by the CGIL, which is taking to the streets all over Italy today, there are wage and pension increases, a stop to the raising of the retirement age, the fight against precariousness, the no to rearmament, the demand for investments in health and education, industrial and tertiary policies and a fair and progressive tax reform.
According to the union, the strike adhesion figures of the companies in the Marche region are around 20% for the workers of Poltrona Frau Spa, 25% Clabo Group (50% production), 70% Ifi spa (80% production, 25% employees).
Conerobus, Crn, Fincantieri and Ferretti workers also took part in the parade.

"The deputy prime minister and minister Matteo Salvini visited the FS operations centre to verify the effects of the strike called for today: fortunately, the data are encouraging and the inconveniences very limited. Salvini wanted to personally thank the women and men of the FS group who are operational and will be monitoring the situation with the utmost attention throughout the day'. This was announced in a Mit note.

First inconveniences, albeit slight, in Abruzzo, due to the general strike proclaimed by the CGIL. As far as trains are concerned, for example, regional trains affected by cancellations or disruptions amount to 10-15% of the total. Meanwhile, everything is ready in L'Aquila for the demonstration promoted by the Abruzzo Molise CGIL. Twenty coaches from the four provinces of Abruzzo and Molise have arrived in the capital. After the concentration in front of the Villa Comunale, the procession will move to the Prefecture, where there will be the final rally.
"The strike of the CGIL is sacrosanct in the face of the arrogance of an arrogant and classist government that doesn't give a damn about those who don't make it to the end of the month," commented the national secretary of the Communist Refoundation Party, Maurizio Acerbo. Today I will participate in the regional demonstration of the CGIL in L'Aquila. The political and media right wing attacks Landini every day with absurd polemics because the CGIL's criticisms are indisputable. This is the government of the rich. But the strike also poses a question to the centre-left parties. Does the broad camp embrace the CGIL platform? If it returns to government will it transform it into government action? Italy is plunging into recession and deindustrialisation while wages and pensions continue to lose purchasing power. Hundreds of thousands of young people leave the country every year. What does the government propose? To enrol them in the army? Italy does not need weapons, but hospitals that work'.

About 5,000 people took part in the Genoa CGIL march that took to the streets this morning against the Meloni government's financial bill. The procession started from the maritime station and is heading towards the prefecture. Leading the way was a lorry on which a banner read 'Stop genocide' in reference to what is happening in Gaza. Among the participants were also the former Ilva workers who last week went on five days of strike for the future of the Cornigliano plant.
During the entire duration of the strike there will be no shortage of inconvenience for the citizens, trains, buses and the underground will stop.

Numerous schools closed and disruptions in transport and health services announced today in Liguria for the CGIL general strike against the manoeuvre. Omore than fifteen Intercity or regional trains have already been cancelled in the Genoa Brignole and Principe railway stations due to the adhesion of FS Group and Trenitalia personnel to the mobilisation since midnight. Thousands of workers of all categories, pensioners and students have taken to the streets in Genoa to take part in the regional demonstration organised by the union with a concentration in front of the Maritime Station, from where the procession started at 9.00 a.m. and is expected to arrive in front of the Prefecture, where national CGIL secretary Pino Gesmundo will speak. To open the procession the banner of the CGIL Genoa and Liguria, the union's demands are: aincrease wages and pensions, stop raising the retirement age, say no to rearmament and invest in health and education, fight precariousness, real industrial and tertiary policies, a fair and progressive tax reform. In Liguria there will be disruptions to the Tpl excluding the guarantee bands with the transport of the disabled guaranteed for the whole day, 24-hour strike in the ports as well as for trucking, porters and couriers 8 hours, maritime agencies 8 hours. Fire brigades participating in the mobilisation will abstain from work for 4 hours. In commerce, tourism, services stop for the whole day or shift for all public and private sectors also in contracting. Banks and insurance sector full day, construction, metalworkers 8 hours of strike. The environmental hygiene sectors and Ministry of Justice personnel are exempt from participation, air transport is exempt in its entirety. The Prefecture of Genoa has adopted apicketing measure for the employees of Cirfood, a company that prepares meals for canteens and patients of hospital and social-health facilities.

Commuter mobility in Bari is inconvenienced as a result of the general strike proclaimed by the CGIL. If from the Trenitalia display board in the Central station it seems that the trains are almost all regular, the concessionary railways report a marked adhesion to the strike for regional trains.
In particular, with the exception of the guarantee bands already guaranteed, Ferrotranviaria is currently reporting that almost all trains and buses are cancelled; at Appulo Lucane, on the other hand, the strike is blocking more than 50% of trains and buses. There are no particular disruptions in other areas at the moment.

The general strike announced by the CGIL has also begun in Milan "to change the Ddl Budget, demand a stop to rearmament and investments in health, education, non-self-sufficiency and housing and social policies", as well as for "a real tax reform that introduces progressive taxation on all incomes, increase resources to support the renewal of public and private contracts" and "to safeguard employment". Atm announces that the M1, M2, M4 and M5 metro lines remain open, while the M3 metro line has closed since 8.45 a.m. It will reopen after 3 p.m. On the surface, some lines are diverted due to a demonstration. For rail transport, Trenord announces that two guarantee time slots will be in force: the first started at 6 a.m. and ended at 9 a.m., the second will be in force from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
In the absence of airport service trains, substitute buses will be set up without intermediate stops: at Milano Cadorna and Malpensa Aeroporto for airport connections only.
From Milano Cadorna buses will depart from Via Paleocapa 1.
At Stabio and Malpensa Aeroporto to guarantee the S50 Malpensa Aeroporto - Stabio airport connection. Trains running on the Ferrovienord network (Milano Cadorna - Novara/Varese/Laveno/Como Nord Lago/Erba/Asso, lines S1, S2, S3, S4, S9, S12, S13 and Brescia-Iseo-Edolo, including the Milano Cadorna/Milano Centrale/Milano Porta Garibaldi - Malpensa Aeroporto and S50 Malpensa Aeroporto - Bellinzona airport connections) may also be affected between 9 p.m. and midnight: the strike affecting the infrastructure manager's staff will in fact end at that time and Trenord advises passengers to consult the list of guaranteed return trains.

Some regional trains scheduled for the morning arriving and departing in Bologna cancelled and some schools closed, several with reduced timetables. These are the first effects of the CGIL strike. The union's procession starts from Piazza XX Settembre and ends in Via Rizzoli with the concluding rally. Appointments also in the other cities of the region. There is instead tension in Bologna for the late afternoon for the protests announced by collectives and Young Palestinians against the Virtus-Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball match at the Fiera. (ANSA).

Workers at the centre of the main disputes in Palermo will parade today, from 9.30 am, from Piazza Felice to Piazza Indipendenza for the general strike proclaimed by the CGIL against the Meloni government's budget law. From the dismissed Almaviva workers to the Selikab metalworkers on redundancy pay affected by the automotive crisis, from the Manelli construction workers to the dismissed Amap temporary workers, from the precarious university lecturers to the pharmacists and their collaborators who are demanding the recovery of their salaries' purchasing power, to the precarious local authority workers, to the university agricultural workers in agitation because the commitment to stabilisation is not translated into reality, to the AeG letturists. Some of them will speak at the demonstration, telling their stories.