Metalworkers, with the last tranche the total increase comes to EUR 311

The last instalment of the increase in the metalworkers' contract will average EUR 137.52. It was calculated by the trade unions, Fiom, Fim and Uilm, which had signed with Federmeccanica and Assistal the agreement for the renewal of the 2021-2024 contract, signed on 5 February 2021. The agreement had established the ex post adjustment, based on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, net of imported energy goods (Ipca Nei), released yesterday by Istat and equal to 6.9%.

A meeting between the parties is scheduled on Tuesday to define the tables, but the average increase of the last tranche, according to the trade unions' calculation, is EUR 137.52 for level C3 (formerly fifth level): the safeguard clause means that the increase will be automatically triggered in the June pay packet. In addition to the minimum rates, the new travelling and on-call allowances will also be calculated with the updated value. The new tranche raises the total increase of the 2021-2024 contract to EUR 311 (310.9), distributed in four tranches: EUR 25, EUR 25, EUR 123.4 and EUR 137.5. This is an increase of more than 16 per cent, very close to the 18 per cent obtained by the ABI bankers.

As explained by Federmeccanica, "the minimum guarantee pay adjustments recognised during the term of the contract are unprecedented and unequalled," explains the Federation, which reaffirms the validity of the model defined with the last contract: "The ex-post adjustment model has proved to be a very important protection for workers at the most difficult time for them due to inflation peaks. The validity of the model, which provides unparalleled protection to workers, can be seen, precisely in periods of high inflation, since the salary adjustment takes place during the term of the contract and not after expiry'.

The general secretary of the Fiom CGIL, Michele De Palma, explains that 'with this important recognition we are moving in the direction of guaranteeing wages in line with the cost of living and the value of the work performed by metalworkers. Bargaining has always been the best tool to strengthen the rights of female and male workers, but it is necessary for the government to do its part by detaxing contractual increases'. Ferdinando Uliano, who leads the Fim Cisl, emphasises that 'the safeguard clause allows for increases in excess of the EUR 35 agreed at the time of the contract'. "We will ask the companies to guarantee the effectiveness of the increases by avoiding operating with absorptions in cases where there are absorbable individual superminimes," Uliano adds.

The adjustment comes close to the expiry of the metalworkers' contract, which is set for the end of this month. In the meantime, in order not to prolong the contract holiday, companies and unions have already started negotiations for the 2024-2027 renewal, for which the unions have asked for an increase of 280 euros in their platform. A request that, coming after a phase of huge increases for the sector, has led Federmeccanica to suggest 'to confront reality, which must never be lost sight of'. In all its aspects. Among these Federmeccanica cites the huge differences between sectors, the reduced profitability of the sector, and stagnating productivity. Another dimension of reality that must be taken into account, for Federmeccanica, concerns the effects and results of the current model, considering both the national and company levels. In the second half of the month the negotiations will try to make progress. Four meeting days have already been scheduled: 18 and 27 June and 11 and 26 July. The unions' objective would be to start with the economic part and then continue with the regulatory part. For companies that are just finishing paying increases that are unparalleled in history, the approach does not seem acceptable.