The pensioner categories of the Como confederal unions in this campaign period
elections have moved to present the list of priorities to the mayoral candidates of the 89 Municipalities who will go to the vote on 8 and 9 June. Among the highlights, there is also a note to the Municipality of Como.
Joint initiative of pensioners’ unions
To explain what this initiative consists of, Spi Cgil Como, Fnp Cisl dei Laghi and Uilp Uil del Lario have called a press conference for Monday 3 June, at the CGIL headquarters in Como, in which they discussed the merits of their project. The press conference was introduced by Marinella Magnoni, general secretary of the Spi Cgil Como: “It is usual for us pensioners’ unions to follow the social negotiation, thus comparing ourselves with the Municipalities and the area plans. On the occasion of the next administrative elections we have prepared a joint letter to indicate our priorities to the mayoral candidates. Given the peculiar characteristics of our category, we bring an interest in issues that concern pensioners, which is why it is a priority for us to have a table dedicated to policies for the elderly in every municipality. In this sense we would like to present our platform also in the Municipality of Como: here, unfortunately, there has never been a real meeting regarding negotiation”.
The appeal to the Municipality of Como
To echo her Dario Grilanda, general secretary of Fnp Cisl dei Laghi: “It is important that an important municipality like Como opens up to discussions with the social partners. I would like to underline that we are not counterparties, but an active part that tries to solve people’s problems. We are antennas in the area, we understand the needs that we would like to bring to the Administrations. We have noticed that for too long the needs of the elderly have almost always been absent from the political debate. As far as we are concerned, we hold meetings in the territories to present our proposals: we want to improve not only the lives of the elderly, but that of all the inhabitants.”
The problem of loneliness among the elderly
For Uilp Uil del Lario present Antonio Del Verme, organizing secretary: “One of the main problems we see is the loneliness of the elderly, plus there is a dramatic issue which is that of the housing crisis: as long as there are two elderly people in the family unit, we are able to meet the expenses, when it comes to If one of the two is missing, great difficulties arise, we notice an increasingly accentuated arrears. Furthermore, there is the problem of needs, starting from the waiting lists: now only those who have the financial means are treated. The average pensions, from what we see in the Como area, are around 1,000 euros: those who have to pay rent when they also have to face a medical examination are in difficulty.” To close the discussion Carlo Rossini, organizational secretary of Spi Como: “The widespread presence in the territory should always encourage the Municipalities to tackle social negotiations. In the Como area we have already had seven signed meeting minutes, we should sign others soon. In this sense, however, it is important to underline that not only Como has never called us, but also other important municipalities in the province”.
