The opinion of the Monfalcone square, chosen to celebrate the national holiday of May 1st, is almost unanimous: the priority today in the world of work is safety. A figure that agrees with the increase in reports of accidents at work, which grew in Italy by 7.2% and in Friuli-Venezia Giulia by 2.2%. The disturbance caused by the fatal accident that occurred just yesterday in Fiume Veneto, in the province of Pordenone, which is explicitly remembered by some of the people interviewed, also undoubtedly has an influence.
However, the issues of wages, the problem of inflation, precarious employment are also priorities – there are those who, if they could, would also change the procurement code, to put a brake on the ease with which jobs are subcontracted, often without considering the precisely, the need for safety.
As regards Europe, the central theme of this May Day twenty years after the enlargement of the Union, coldness prevails: everyone agrees that there is no exit, but for work the effects have not all been positive , they say. In the square, filled with around 4 thousand people, according to estimates, there are also many foreigners: the latter with Italian and, indeed, also European flags.
Sbarra, “stop the trail of blood at work, health and safety are the great priority, we need a Pact”
“We must stop this long trail of blood at work, build the conditions for a national strategy, for a great responsibility pact that
keep politics, the business system, trade union organizations and local powers together.” Thus the general secretary of the CISL, Luigi Sbarra, underlines that “the issue of health and safety must remain the great priority to be addressed and resolved”.
“Work is the foundation of the Republic. For this reason, today is also a celebration of our democracy. Never, ever forget how much effort and how many sacrifices it took to regain, in Italy and in Europe, freedom, democracy. And the most precious good: peace”. Sbarra said. The beginning of his speech on stage was greeted by some whistles from the square.
Landini, “putting work, rights and safety back at the centre. We need to change the development model and the wrong laws”
We need to put work, people’s rights back at the centre, fight and overcome precariousness, increase wages”. Thus the general secretary of the CGIL, Maurizio Landini, also highlighting the issue of safety at work, with “the accidents and deaths that are recorded above all in the procurement and subcontracting system
they involve precarious workers more. We must – he insists – change the development model and change the wrong, crazy laws that exist in the country”
Bombers, 500 thousand accidents at work, no one feels absolved
“From here we launch a European commitment on rights, starting from the essential right to respect for life. And our first thoughts go to those who have lost it while working: 1040 victims every year, 500 thousand accidents. No one should feel absolved. Enough condolences, enough with the necessary condolences. We have run out of tears, now we want concrete facts.” This was said by the general secretary of Uil, Pierpaolo Bombardieri, remembering the latest victim, a 69-year-old worker who died yesterday in Pordenone.
Below are the interviews by Alessandra Zigaina with the national secretaries of the CISL Luigi Sbarra, of the CGIL Maurizio Landini and of the UIL Pierpaolo Bombardieri
