Up to now, everything possible has been done to avoid creating inconveniences or disservices to users by trying to fill a void – increasingly larger from 2023 to today – which is putting the sector to the test: we are talking about of the workers of the Civic Services of the Municipality of Varese (Registry Office, Civil Status, Electoral Office); overall a reduced workforce of 7 units due to retirements, terminations and transfers in the face of new and more onerous tasks assigned to the sector following regulatory developments.
Just think for example of separation/divorce procedures (at the Municipality the cost is 16 euros) or those for the purchase and sale of motor vehicles. It should also be highlighted that the counters of these offices are also used for procedures that must be concluded within the legal deadlines which, if not respected, lead to the omission of official documents (e.g. citizenship, births); or for obligations connected to a very heavy amount of work, for example we mention all the activities connected to the electoral consultations (European elections coming soon): faced with a body of 66 thousand voters and 2 electoral subcommissions that follow 47 Municipalities of which 34 will go to local elections next 8 and 9 June, only two people on duty. Then there are other activities that still have their importance, think of the verification of the actual residences, today guaranteed by a single person on staff.
It should be noted that employees at the front office counter must also answer telephone calls while simultaneously managing various types of requests including appointment diaries. The result of this situation: excessive workloads, stress and psycho-physical discomfort. During the Union Assembly of 11 April called by the RSU, the relevant critical issues were exposed which for some time have had a negative impact on the working conditions of staff but soon, in the absence of interventions, also on the services to be guaranteed to the community. These workers did everything possible, with dedication and extraordinary commitment, to still ensure all services and maintain their quality standards, but now they have reached the end of the line. Before addressing the trade union representatives, they represented their difficulties and the consequent need to find adequate solutions to the management and political leaders of the organization but without confirmation either in terms of employment prospects or from an organizational point of view.
The aspect that most struck us as a trade union representative was the state of great discomfort expressed by the workers present at the meeting, to the point of understanding the repercussions on their psycho-physical health; on the other hand, “work-related stress” is indicated in terms of a risk factor by Legislative Decree 81/2008 which places specific obligations on the Employer and which, however, seems very neglected by the Municipality of Varese.
Now employees are no longer willing to wait. The Assembly decided to request an urgent meeting to verify the immediate adoption of resolution measures, starting from the increase in staff and, as a last resort, reorganization interventions aimed at protecting workplace well-being. Upon mandate of the assembly, the RSU and the trade unions. they ask for an urgent meeting in the hope that the discussion can lead to useful measures for workers but also for the services to be guaranteed to citizens without having to move on to more radical forms of trade union struggle. The outcome of the meeting will then be evaluated at a subsequent meeting.
RSU of the Municipality of Varese
Ooss Cgil Fp – Cisl Fp – Uil Fpl – Al Cobas
