Maurizio Landini, the president of
Italy's biggest trade-union confederation, the CGIL, said
Saturday that a general strike may be held to protest against
the policies of Premier Giorgia Meloni's government.
"There's a very deep, very big difference with the government,"
Landini said as he wrapped up the CGIL's congress, which Meloni
addressed on Friday.
"There is no chance of discussion for the whole Italian union
movement.
"It is necessary to start mobilization, with no instruments
ruled out, including a strike if necessary".
He said that the CGIL wants to take action with Italy's two
other big unions, CISL and UIL, and that a meeting has been
arranged for talks with them next week.
The unions have expressed opposition to the government's plans
for reform of the tax system, which see the nation's income tax
bands being cut for four to three as part of the process towards
bringing in a flat tax for all workers by the end of the
parliamentary term.
Unions and opposition parties said it is unfair that high and
low earners should pay the same tax rates.
"We want to change this country more than the government and the
political parties do," Landini said.
"We say to CISIL and UIL that we want to do it together with you
and the workers.
"They won't stop us. We'll win the battle.
"What are we afraid of? What have we got to lose?
"The pensions that we don't have? Job insecurity? The salaries
that don't last until the end of the month?".
Meloni stuck to her guns when she addressed the congress on
Friday, reiterating her opposition to introducing a minimum wage
and standing by her decision to scrap the 'citizenship wage'
minimum-income benefit for the jobless, saying it had "failed in
its aims".
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