New tender for Uffizi museum services in Florence, workers’ concern for maintaining economic conditions. Filcams Cgil: “Nothing has yet moved since the strike a year ago, we ask for clarity on the path: no to the risk of worsening the situation of those who work, we are ready to mobilize”
In recent days, the contract for the Uffizi museum services was mentioned in the electoral campaign debate as an element of discussion between the candidates. We need to provide some union clarifications regarding the matter.
Also for this reason, the workers of Opera Laboratori, together with the Filcams Cgil trade union representatives, this morning in the Chamber of Labor in Florence took stock of the concession tender for the reception, ticketing and bookshop services of the Uffizi-Palazzo Pitti (as well as to Opificio Pietre Dure and regional museum management), published on 17 May 2023, and regarding the two meetings held with the new director Dr. Verde in the previous months, also in light of the recent controversies that emerged in the public debate in relation to the concession tender .
As already known, following the strong critical issues that emerged from the tender documents, at the time of publication the unions, the RSUs and the Museum Management of the Uffizi Gallery signed a trade union agreement which, among other things, defines as “fundamental the respect of the economic and regulatory conditions, including supplementary, of the workers for the assignment of the tender”.
The assembly expresses strong concern, considering that almost a year later (it was 7/1/2023) after the strike of over 280 workers at Opera Laboratori Fiorentini, still nothing has moved and no one has clarified how to give substance to what written in the agreement.
The workers and the trade unions are still waiting for a response and we would not like to find ourselves in the next few weeks with an assignment that could result in the procedures (which have been stopped for many months) failing to comply with the aforementioned agreement. The workers of Opera Laboratori Fiorentini, with the trade union representatives, ask for clarity on the path to be taken and declare themselves ready to mobilize if necessary. As reiterated from day one, it seems incredible to us that a concession tender for one of the most expensive and most visited museums in the world could produce a substantial worsening of the material conditions of workers. Failure to comply with the union agreement which avoids the loss of jobs or wages would frankly seem to us to be more insult than injury. We, united, are and will remain here, in defense of our wages and our rights.
Signed: Filcams Cgil Firenze and Rsu Filcams Cgil Opera Laboratori
