“Work is inextricably linked to the person, to their dignity, to their social dimension, to the contribution that everyone can and must make to participation in the life of society. Work is not a commodity.” The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella said this speaking from Calabria in view of Labor Day. “It has value in the goods and exchange market. Indeed, it is an essential element – he added – because without the contribution of human creativity it would be devoid of consistency and quality”
The President of the Republic left the Assolac Granarolo factory in Castrovillari to the applause of those present, where he celebrated Labor and Workers’ Day. The head of state, who was accompanied by the Minister of Labor Marina Elvira Calderone, previously also visited the Gias plant in Mongrassano. The two realities are part of the Cosenza agri-food district system of which Mattarella highlighted the level of excellence in the south.
The president, welcomed on his arrival by the president of the Calabria Region Roberto Occhiuto, by the president of the Province of Cosenza Rosaria Succurro and by the mayor of the city Mimmo Lo Polito, was applauded several times upon his entrance and during his speech. Upon arrival in the company warehouse packed with authorities, many mayors with tricolor sashes, workers and journalists, he was welcomed by the Mameli anthem sung by the pupils of the Giuseppe Troccoli middle school in Lauropoli, a hamlet of Cassano allo Ionio. Rossella Ciappetta, director of the Giuseppe Troccoli boys’ choir in Lauropoli who sang Mameli’s anthem.
“It was certainly an honor – said the choir director Rossella Ciappetta, visibly moved – to be here. There is great emotion on the part of all of us, the boys and myself included. We hope to have honored this day and the President of the Republic.”
“What we are experiencing today – said Enzo, a Granarolo worker – is a great recognition for us and for our company. We are happy to have welcomed the Head of State into our structure.”
Gaetano Piraino was also very excited and spoke on behalf of the workers. “In this company – he said – there is a founding principle which is that of feeling good. Solidarity and mutual support are practiced here. And also by virtue of this, in difficult moments, such as that of the Covid 19 pandemic – he added – we were able to give our best.
“Emilia and Calabria share the same history of integration and valorisation of knowledge and activities. A story that began in the 1950s.” Gianpiero Calzolari, president of Granarolo, said this during the visit to the Assolac-Granarolo factory in Castrovillari by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and the Minister of Labor Marina Calderone. “Tomorrow is Labor Day – said Calzolari, remembering the victims at work as happened in Suviana – and it is right to remember the tragedies of those who die at work. It was 1957 when a group of sharecroppers formed a cooperative to restore dignity to their work: it happened in Emilia as in Calabria and over the years those projects have transformed into cooperative enterprises. It was ’65 when the first milk plant in Cosenza was born to guarantee quality milk for everyone. Then, 24 years ago – we decided to put our stories together, creating an axis between Emilia and Calabria”. “We have always – said the president of Granarolo who remembered Gaetano Nola among the architects of this Calabrian reality who passed away a few weeks ago – in the excellence of this country in the all-Italian ability to transform an exceptional raw material into many equally exceptional variations. The challenge of the future is to combine this ability with the challenges of modernization and technological innovation.” “Here – Calzolai continued – we found no difficulties in doing business, on the contrary we found a group of people who, like us, believed in their work and their land”.
