“In Bari, but in general in Italy, there is still a long way to go in terms of the right to work”. This, in summary, is the thought of Antonio Ventrelli, of Cgil Filcams, who is strongly concerned about the current situation linked to rights, but also about the ongoing disputes relating both to the trade, multi-services, tourism and catering sectors, and to other sectors which see more and more workers in the Apulian capital in precarious conditions.
From Bosch, to Sanità Service, up to Iperblu, but also Soa. These are just some of the ongoing disputes in the Bari area which today see many workers – and consequently families – suspended by a thread, waiting to know their future and better understand how to survive the present. “The situation is critical on many fronts – he explained – but I am focusing on my sector which today sees two procedures open in particular, that of the Soa company which affects 12 workers and that of Iperblu which affects 60. For the Soa it was a dismissal procedure was opened, but we asked for a joint examination. However, there is a risk that the group will collapse, as the company has in fact justified the decision due to the crisis. For Iperblu, however, the future of the 60 workers is unknown. On April 30, according to what emerged, they will be without work. We hope for social safety nets”, he highlighted, underlining the need to act as soon as possible on the employment front.
“It is necessary – he explained – to renew contracts. There are many that are now dated. Without the renewal of contracts there is a loss of purchasing power of wages and workers are thus unable to have a dignified life. In our sector there are 11 contracts that have expired and have not been renewed, 8 concern tourism and collective and commercial catering and public establishments, then we have the building powers contract, the domestic work contract and finally the contract for beauticians and hairdressers. We need to act soon. The fight against precariousness is also important. Think of workers with fixed-term contracts or on-call work and vouchers. In this way workers have no rights, we are preparing a referendum on this,” she highlights.
Another fundamental point on which, according to Ventrelli, it is urgent to intervene at a local as well as national level is that of involuntary part time. “These are – he explains – those workers hired even for a few hours of work who, in order to bring home a decent salary, are forced to do even two or three jobs, killing themselves with work. There is also the problem of the vertical cycle which involves periods of suspension where no compensation is foreseen. This is the case of school canteen workers. We need regulation on part-time 7, 8 or 10 hour contracts. This is how workers cannot live. Not to mention the conditions: workers must be guaranteed the possibility of reconciling their life and work times, many are forced to work even on holidays. Unfortunately we accept it because we need it, but it’s not right. Furthermore, it is necessary to intervene on injuries. There are still too many people injured at work and too many deaths, we need ad hoc laws to protect workers,” he underlined.
Among the battles of Filcams, in the Bari area, but not only, there is the one concerning the humanization of work. “We want – he finally said – to improve the working conditions of citizens. There are many issues that need to be addressed and on which it is urgent to intervene. There are even companies with pirated contracts, not signed by trade unions, it is a phenomenon that must be combated. We need to intervene with laws to improve the conditions of workers, everyone. The situation is critical in various sectors, workers must be protected so that they have a life worthy of being called such,” she concluded.
Freepik photo
