The training sector in Sicily continues to suffer from the Region’s delays, sometimes very serious, in the accreditation of entitlements. Delays that prevent the payment of salaries of workers in the sector, who often have no other sources of income.
So the confederal unions decided to take a stand, issuing a joint statement signed by Michele Vivaldi regional secretary of the FLC CGIL, of Honore Federico regional secretary of the CISL SCHOOL and of Ninni Panzica UIL SCHOOL regional secretary.
The press release states that “For months, thousands of Sicilian professional training workers have not received salaries due to the unacceptable delays of the Sicilian Region in disbursing payments to institutions for courses completed or underway. A problem that is now endemic”.
“Unlike what happened in other historical moments” – the statement continues – “it is not an economic crisis but a financial one: the money is there but it is not paid to the managing bodies and therefore the workers do not receive their salaries. These are substantial sums which are part of the 56 million of Notice 3, the 79 million of Notice 7, or the 12 million of Notice 8. To these are added the resources relating to compulsory school courses that the Region has in its coffers, but for which it delays transfers to institutions or disburses by making errors in the mandates. A problem well known also to President Schifani, who on April 30th contested the slowness of the Sicilian bureaucratic machine, reiterating the right of companies to be paid by the Public Administration”.
“Professional training workers” – they continue Vivaldi, Federico And Panzica – “they are supporting a system that goes from compulsory training to courses for inclusion grant applicants. These workers have the right to certain and continuous remuneration. In recent days we have had discussions with employers’ associations on the analysis of the crisis and the probable opening of collective dismissal procedures to be avoided. For these reasons we urgently asked to be convened by the V Commission of the ARS, not excluding the establishment of a permanent crisis unit until the system is made safe. If we are not listened to, mobilization will be inevitable”.
“Sicilian politics” – they conclude – “it cannot be distracted by the electoral campaign for the European elections, abandoning around 6000 workers to their fate. Incapacity and negligence can no longer be tolerated. The situation is unsustainable, whoever is responsible for all this should take note of it and resign”.
