Kowalsky
14th March 2012, 15:12
A general strike of the metal workers was called by FIOM-Cgil on March 9th. FIOM-Cgil is the most representative metalworkers union in Italy.
FIOM planned a national demonstration on February, then changed it to a general strike after the government began talks to change the law over dismissals.
The USB union (in truth, more radicated among statal workers and clerks then among factory workers) also called for strike of metalworker sector the same day.
The strike had impact on many factories, reaching peaks of 80-90% of partecipation in the most unionized factories. As for my experience, is a really good partecipation, taking in account that many temps, especially in smallest factories, cannot strike. Here are some data http://www.fiom.cgil.it/eventi/2012/12_03_09-manifestazione_nazionale/12_03_09-adesione.pdf
A great demonstration was held in Rome, partecipated by striking metalworkers, by students and by the NO-TAV movement (a movement that opposes the building of a new high velocity/high capacity railway from Turin to Lyone)
The center-on-the-left Democratic Party supports mr. Monti's "technic" government and support the TAV-project. Many inside the party considered the demonstration as the first mass demonstration against Monti and, indeed, it was.
Some of the "leftwingers" of the DP announced their partecipation in the demonstration, but where lately prohibited to with the official argument of the NO-TAV movement.
On the other hand, the leftist parties partecipated: Vendola's Left Ecology and Freedom, the Party of the Communist Refoundation, the Party of Italian Communists, the "neo populist" Italy of Values and other minor communist parties. Although united by the protest, still divided by proposals. While Left Ecology and Freedom still is trying and conclude an agreement with the Democratic Party for the general elections in 2013, Refoundation is calling for a leftist pole.
During the final speeches, the representative of the greek metalworkers union was hailed by the crowd, as where the tradeunionist of the FIAT group, who are now denied the right to represent the workers and, in some case, the job itself.
The CGIL confederation representative, Scudiere, was harshly challenged, as many metalworkers judged his speech too soft. During the intervention of Scudiere the crowd called for a general strike of all categories.
In his speech the FIOM Secretary General, Maurizio Landini, also called to CGIL for a general strike against any change on the law over dismissals and against Monti's political economy. He also specched against the constituzionalization of the golden rule and for a new model of development. Eventually he remembered is not willing to gave up this fight and is ready to take on it for a long time.
Hera are some photos of the demonstration in Rome: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fiomnet/sets/72157629553533311/show/with/6969795161
FIOM planned a national demonstration on February, then changed it to a general strike after the government began talks to change the law over dismissals.
The USB union (in truth, more radicated among statal workers and clerks then among factory workers) also called for strike of metalworker sector the same day.
The strike had impact on many factories, reaching peaks of 80-90% of partecipation in the most unionized factories. As for my experience, is a really good partecipation, taking in account that many temps, especially in smallest factories, cannot strike. Here are some data http://www.fiom.cgil.it/eventi/2012/12_03_09-manifestazione_nazionale/12_03_09-adesione.pdf
A great demonstration was held in Rome, partecipated by striking metalworkers, by students and by the NO-TAV movement (a movement that opposes the building of a new high velocity/high capacity railway from Turin to Lyone)
The center-on-the-left Democratic Party supports mr. Monti's "technic" government and support the TAV-project. Many inside the party considered the demonstration as the first mass demonstration against Monti and, indeed, it was.
Some of the "leftwingers" of the DP announced their partecipation in the demonstration, but where lately prohibited to with the official argument of the NO-TAV movement.
On the other hand, the leftist parties partecipated: Vendola's Left Ecology and Freedom, the Party of the Communist Refoundation, the Party of Italian Communists, the "neo populist" Italy of Values and other minor communist parties. Although united by the protest, still divided by proposals. While Left Ecology and Freedom still is trying and conclude an agreement with the Democratic Party for the general elections in 2013, Refoundation is calling for a leftist pole.
During the final speeches, the representative of the greek metalworkers union was hailed by the crowd, as where the tradeunionist of the FIAT group, who are now denied the right to represent the workers and, in some case, the job itself.
The CGIL confederation representative, Scudiere, was harshly challenged, as many metalworkers judged his speech too soft. During the intervention of Scudiere the crowd called for a general strike of all categories.
In his speech the FIOM Secretary General, Maurizio Landini, also called to CGIL for a general strike against any change on the law over dismissals and against Monti's political economy. He also specched against the constituzionalization of the golden rule and for a new model of development. Eventually he remembered is not willing to gave up this fight and is ready to take on it for a long time.
Hera are some photos of the demonstration in Rome: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fiomnet/sets/72157629553533311/show/with/6969795161