Railway workers, contract signed: 230 euro increase and 1,000 euro one-off payment

Clarification in the dispute for the renewal of the national contract for railway activities 2024-2026: for the 90,000 railway workers an average increase of 230 euros on the minimum wage is on the way, when fully operational, and a one-off payment of one thousand euros to cover the contractual holiday period. This is envisaged by the hypothesis of renewal of the national collective labour agreement for Mobility/Railway activities signed by Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl, Uiltrasporti, Ugl Ferrovieri, Orsa Ferrovie and Fast Confsal with Agens, accompanied by the hypothesis of renewal of the second level company contract of the Italian State Railways Group reached with the top management of the Italian State Railways Group: both contracts expired on 31 December 2023.

The new contract, which concerns more than 90,000 workers - including those employed in contracted services such as catering, cleaning, personal assistance with reduced mobility and night-time accompaniment -, provides for an average pay increase of 230 euros per month (on C1 level), paid in three instalments between June 2025 and June 2026. In addition, a one-off payment of EUR 1,000 to cover the contractual holiday period from 1 January 2024 to 31 May 2025, will be paid in August 2025, accompanied by the revaluation of allowances such as shifts, Sundays, travel and meal reimbursements.For railway contract workers there is the introduction of EUR 7 meal vouchers from 1 January 2026. In the Ccnl there are also important innovations on safety at work, starting with the introduction of the figure of the site Rls and the Stop Work Authority, which allows workers to stop work in the event of potential danger and avoid disciplinary sanctions.Unanimously, the trade unions emphasise that 'the renewed contracts, in compliance with the interconfederal agreement of 28 June 2011, will expire on 31 December 2026', pointing out that 'after 18 months of negotiations, the objectives set by the platform presented in July 2023 have been achieved, with adequate wage increases, more protection, more rights, and important regulatory changes, aimed at concretely improving working conditions'.

At the same time, the FS Group's corporate contract was also renewed, with measures enhancing corporate welfare, social security and healthcare. A specific agreement was signed for the recovery of the performance bonus for 2024, set at €950, and the amounts for the bonuses of the following two years were also set, equal to €1,100 for 2025 with payment in 2026 and €1,200 for 2026 with payment in 2027. The agreement also confirms the central role of health and safety in the workplace, providing greater protection and concrete actions to spread a shared culture of prevention. The personnel classification system has been updated, in line with the evolution of company processes, and actions have been defined with a view to generational change, such as the introduction of tools such as dual apprenticeship to encourage young people to enter the world of work. Among the qualifying elements of the renewal is the updating of regulations on working hours and organisation that take into account the need to reconcile private and professional life, also helping to ensure greater sustainability of passenger and cargo business. Other changes include the establishment of a Joint Commission to analyse the impact of new professions related to innovation and artificial intelligence, and many allowances have been re-evaluated. "More balance and quality of life has been agreed on in terms of rest, working hours and working conditions," the unions explain, "and more protection for people with the introduction of the FS Group's code of conduct against sexual harassment and new instruments in favour of parenting, family assistance and leave in the event of bereavement. The trade unions will lift the reservation by 20 June.

"By signing the renewal of the FS Group's corporate contract, we confirm our commitment in favour of people, promoting the improvement of work-life balance, with the aim of enhancing the Group's professional skills," stated the CEO and General Manager of the FS Group Stefano Antonio Donnarumma. He added: "This renewal not only meets the company's production needs, but also aims to develop skills through digitalisation and innovation, fundamental resources for the evolution of current and future jobs. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the trade unions for their shared work, their commitment, and the joint effort that made it possible to achieve this result. The agreement is a fundamental step to support the transformation and evolution of the sector, with the aim of giving impetus and value to the Country System'.

On 6 May, Filt Cgil, Fit-Cisl and Uiltrasporti had called for an 8-hour national strike of railway and contract workers for the renewal of the national contract. It remains to be seen what impact the contractual agreement will have on the strike called for the entire day of Friday 23rd by the basic unions Sgb and Usb for the rail freight and railway companies respectively.