Alessandra Mecozzi International Secretary Fiom-Cgil

1. Alessandra Mecozzi International Secretary Fiom-Cgil TRADE UNIONS FACING GLOBAL CRISIS ITALY/EUROPE Oslo Conference - 30 September 2011

2. GLOBAL CRISIS FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL CRISIS STARTS IN THE UNITED STATES, GOES THROUGH EUROPE, HAS AN IMPACT ALSO IN THE SOUTH OF THE WORLD 2007 – 2010 WORK AND SOCIAL CRISIS (source: ILO ) If the world economic scenarium is continuing to worse: unemployed workers could reach 50 millions that means unemployment rate 7,1%. Almost 200 milions very poor Precarious workers: toward 53% out of the total emplyment Unemployment in European Union: from 5,7% to 6,4%. Realistic picture: says Juan Somavia. General director of ILO Struggle for a decent work all over the world Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 1

3. FOOD CRISIS ( source: FAO) • The combination of economic and food crisis produced almost 1 billion of starving people ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CRISIS • No positive result from COP 15 in Copenhagen – 200 millions of environement refugees by 2050 UNFAIR INTERNATIONAL TRADE • Multilateral system WTO in crisis. No result from Doha Round, so called development round in charge to find rules for agreements providing employment and development • International metalworkers federation Congress 2009: To fight for a sustainable trade and development and for employment Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 2

4. ITALY METAL INDUSTRY 1.800.000 WORKERS GENERAL INCREASE OF UNEMPLOYMENT TO 9%: METAL SECTOR PRODUCTION 2008 - 5.2% First quarter 2009 - 30% Expected 2° quarter - 33,7% GPD expected in 2009 - 6% First 5 months export - 27,7% Import - 32,3% MAIN TOOLS USED: CASSA INTEGRAZIONE GUADAGNI (CIG) FIRST 7 MONTHS 2009 2238 Millions h. INCREASE ON 2008 +287% Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 3

5. INCREASE CIG ON 2008 (ordinary) +465% (see that 2009 only 7 months) EXTIMATION PEOPLE INVOLVED IN CIG: ABOUT 512.000 WORKERS The Estimation of the the total number of workers at zero h. is 257.000 workers (effect of negotiations: rotation) OUTLOOK AUTUMN/2010 NO RECOVERY 2010 - AFTER 2010 VERY VERY SLOWLY END OF POSSIBILITY ORDINARY CIG (52 WEEKS) TO AVOID DISMISSALS: EXTENSION OF CIG TO ALL WORKERS INCLUDED PRECARIOUS NOTE: 300.000 PRECARIOS WORKERS LOST THEIR JOBS (all sectors) Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 4

6. MOST WIDESPREAD TYPES OF CONTRACTS IN METALWORK SECTOR: • FIXED-TERM • TEMPORARY • PART-TIME • STAFF LEASING AND SUB-CONTRACTING • SELF EMPLOYMENT OR PROJECT CONTRACT • (FOR WHITE COLLAR) Alessandra Mecozzi – Uff. Internazionale Fiom-Cgil Nazionale PAG. 5

7. TRADE UNIONS IN ITALY (after 1948 and the division of the unite CGL born post resistence against nazi-fascism) THREE MAIN CONFEDERATIONS: CGIL – MORE THAN 5.5 MILLIONS MEMBERS CISL - MORE THAN 4.5 MILLIONS MEMBERS UIL – MORE THAN 2 MILLIONS MEMBERS EVERY CONFEDERATION INCLUDES SECTOR FEDERATIONS (private and public sectors) METALWORKERS: FIOM-CGIL – MORE THAN 360.000 MEMBERS FIM-CISL - MORE THAN 212.000 MEMBERS UILM-UIL - MORE THAN 90.000 MEMBERS THE THREE CONFEDERATIONS ARE AFFILIATED TO THE EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATIONS (ETUC and ITUC) THE THREE METALWORKERS FEDERATIONS ARE AFFILIATED TO THE EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS (EMF AND IMF) Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 6

8. ANSWERS TO THE CRISIS IN ITALY • THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED IN DIVIDING TRADE UNIONS • DIFFERENT ANSWERS FROM TRADE UNIONS • 2009 • FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT BETWEEN CISL, UIL, GOVERNEMENT AND • CONFINDUSTRIA ON THE REFORM OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAIN • SYSTEM. • CGIL DOES NOT SIGN, STRONG CRITICISM BECAUSE: • LIGHTER NATIONAL CONTRACT • DECENTRALIZATION OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING TOWARD • COMPANY LEVEL FOR MORE PRODUCTIVITY • BILATERAL ENTITIES ON WELFARE STATE WEAKEN NATIONAL • COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND CHANGE THE NATURE OF TRADE • UNIONS • PRINCIPLE OF DEROGATION OF NATIONAL CONTRACTS • NO ANSWERS FOR THE UNEMPLOYMENT/PRECARIOUS WORK • NO INDUSTRIAL POLICY Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 7

9. CGIL SUBMITS THE AGREEMENT TO A BALLOTT AMONG ITS MEMBERS: 3.6 MILLIONS OF CGIL MEMBERS VOTE AGAINST IT 13 FEBRUARY: FIOM AND PUBLIC SERVICES ON NATIONAL STRIKE 4 APRIL: CGIL NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AND RIGHTS FIM-CISL and UILM-UIL SIGN A SEPARATE NATIONAL CONTRACT WITH EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION, WHILE THE ONE OF 2008 IS STILL VALID. IT FOLLOWS THE RULES OF THE NATIONAL AGREEMENT SIGNED BY CISL AND UIL Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 8

10. CRISIS AND THE FIAT CASE 2009 – 2011 • FIAT STARTS THE PROCESS TOWARDS ALLIANCE WITH CHRYSLER • NO PLANS FOR ITALIAN PLANTS – TWO PLANTS CLOSURE • THE THREE METALWORKERS FEDERATIONS CALL ON STRIKES AND • NATIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE CLOSURE OF ANY PLANT • NO POSITIVE INTERVENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT, SUPPORTS FIAT • FIAT BLACKMAIL: • EITHER TRADE UNIONS AND WORKERS ACCEPT CUTS IN RIGHTS AND WORKING • CONDITIONS OR NO INVESTMENT, NO JOBS (POMIGLIANO, MIRAFIORI PLANTS) • FIM-CISL and UILM-UIL: • SEPARATE AGREEMENT WITH FIAT FOR POMIGLIANO PLANT AND, LATER ON, • FOR MIRAFIORI PLANT: REDUCTION OF BREAKS, INCREASED OVERTIME, • SANCTIONS ON WORKERS AND TRADE UNIONS, LIMITATION OF RIGHT TO • STRIKE, DEROGATIONS OF NATIONAL CONTRACT, EASIER DISMISSALS, NO • RIGHT FOR WORKERS TO ELECT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, UNION NOT • SIGNATORY LOOSES THE RIGHT TO ACTIN THE PLANTS Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 9

11. FIOM-CGIL DOES NOT SIGN: THE WAY OUT OF THE CRISIS CANNOT BE FOUND REDUCING WORKERS AND UNIONS‘ RIGHTS. CGIL CALLS A GENERAL STRIKE FOR DEMOCRACY AND RIGHTS 16 OCTOBER – WORK IS A COMMON GOOD NATIONAL METALWORKERS DEMONSTRATION CALLED BY FIOM WITH SOCIAL MOVEMENTS (*) ABOUT DEMOCRACY, LEGALITY, WORK, RIGHTS, NATIONAL CONTRACT- “ YES RIGHTS, NO BLACKMAILS” DECEMBER 2010 FIM-CISL and UILM-UIL: SEPARATE AGREEMENT WITH EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION (Federmeccanica)ABOUT DEROGATIONS OF THE NATIONAL CONTRACT (*) Fiom is part of the World Social Forum process since 2001 Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 10

12. CURRENT SITUATION …. • GOVERNEMENT POLICIES: AUSTERITY MEASURES (ALL OVER EUROPE) – (see EUROPLUS PACT) • IN ITALY BUDGETARY LAW (AUGUST 2011: 54.265 BILLIONS eu) • CUT IN SOCIAL EXPENDITURES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: HEALTH, • EDUCATION, PUBLIC SERVICES – RETIREMENT AGE INCREASED FOR WOMEN • MORE TAXES FOR CITIZENS; NO MEASURES AGAINST FISCAL EVASION • 5% CUT FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' INCOMES OVER 90.000 EU • 10% CUT FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' OVER 100.000 EU • THE BUDGET BALANCE IS INCLUDED IN THE CONSTITUTION! • MORE PRIVATIZATIONS (WANTS TO CANCEL RESULTS OF APRIL REFERENDUMS: PUBLIC WATER, ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES) • ART.8 VIOLATES NATIONAL LAWS AND CONSTITUTION: EASY DISMISSALS, DEROGATION OF NATIONAL CONTRACT AND LAWS FIAT SEPARATE AGREEMENT BECOMES LAW Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 11

13. 6 SEPTEMBER 2011 GENERAL STRIKE CGIL AGAINST THE “AUSTERITY MEASURES” THAT NEITHER TAX THE WEALTH NOR HIT FISCAL EVASION; ART.8 MUST BE DELETED 22-23 SEPTEMBER FIOM DELEGATES ASSEMBLY (600) VOTE THE DEMANDS FOR THE NATIONAL COLLECTIVE CONTRACT, TO BE SIGNED BY ALL THE METALWORKERS FEDERATIONS AND VOTED BY ALL THE WORKERS: • NO DEROGATIONS • LIMITS TO PRECARIOUS WORK (EMF COMMON DEMAND) • RIGHT OF TRADE UNIONS PROPOSAL IN CASE OF RESTRUCTURING, INVESTMENTS OR REORGANISING PROCESSES • STOP DISMISSALS; SOCIAL PROTECTION TOOLS • RIGHTS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION (MIGRANTS, WOMEN...) • WAGES INCREASE (206 € /month) Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 12

14. INCREASING SOCIAL OPPOSITION: • AGAINST ECONOMIC MEASURES AND THE ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY AND CITIZENS LIVING CONDITIONS; • AGAINST CORRUPTION AND FEW ELITES POWER; • AGAINST BANK SYSTEM AND DEPENDANCE FROM FINANCIAL MARKETS • AGAINST HUGE FISCAL EVASION ANTI GOVERNMENT SHARP POSITIONS ALSO FROM CHURCH AND EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION (CONFINDUSTRIA) POLITICAL LEFT OPPOSITION IS WEAK, TRYING TO UNITE MOBILISATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ALL OVER EUROPE: 15 OCTOBER EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL ACTION DAY “PEOPLE OF EUROPE RISE UP!” AGAINST AUSTERITY MEASURES, FOR REAL DEMOCRACY AND ALTERNATIVES FIOM-CGIL WILL PARTICIPATE ON THE BASIS OF THE DELEGATES ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 13

15. WHAT IS THE EUROPLUS PACT • Decided in the spring 2011 meeting of the European • Council of ministries • Measures aiming to put stronger european obligations on • National States • MEASURES TRANSFERRING LEGISLATIVE POWER TO • SUPRANATIONAL BODIES AND BANK SYSTEM • Stability pact binding for national regulations (example: the balance of budget to be put in the national Constitutions) • The States have to adopt regulations according with the indications of the Bank system in order to reach a common financial market Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 14

16. MEASURES TO REFORM LABOR MARKET • Public employees wages to be aligned with competition level of the privates • Competitivity must increase through productivity. The salaries must be linked to productivity. Revision of national agreements and collective contracts.Flexsecurity as a tool. • To make easier the dismissals • MEASURES TO REDUCE SOCIAL EXPENDITURES AND SOCIAL RIGHTS • To increase retirement age • To reduce social protection systems, worsening social security • MEASURES FOR A COMMON FISCAL MODEL • One common model based on direct and indirect tax system Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 15

17. EUROPEAN TRADE UNIONS CONFEDERATION FACING THE CRISIS AND AUSTERITY MEASURES ETUC was founded in 1973, it now represents 83 trade union organisations in 36 European countries, plus 12 industry-based federations (EMF Among them) Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 16

18. MAIN MOBILIZATIONS AND OBJECTIVES: MAY 2009 “FIGHT THE CRISIS: PUT PEOPLE FIRST “ EURODEMONSTRATIONS IN BERLIN, BRUSSELS, MADRID AND PRAGUE on 5 POINTS: • An expanded recovery programme to provide more and better jobs, to protect employment in key industries, to invest in new, sustainable technologies, and to maintain vital public services. • Better pay and pensions, stronger welfare states, higher benefits to protect the purchasing power and effective participation rights to boost economies. • An end to the decisions of the European Court of Justice for market freedoms over our fundamental rights and collective agreements by confirming the social objectives of the internal market, and guaranteeing equal treatment and equal pay for ‘posted’ migrant workers. • Effective regulation of financial markets, distribution of wealth, no return to casino capitalism or to the ‘business as usual’ in financial markets. • A European Central Bank committed to growth and full employment, not just price stability. Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 17

19. 29 SEPTEMBER 2010 “NO TO AUSTERITY. PRIORITY FOR JOBS AND GROWTH” EUROPEAN DAY OF ACTION IN SPRING 2011 : EUROPLUS PACT 17 SEPTEMBER 2011 “YES TO EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY – YES TO JOBS AND WORKERS‘ RIGHTS – NO TO AUSTERITY” EURODEMONSTRATION IN WRACLAW, POLAND 28 SEPTEMBER 2011 ETUC CRITICIZES STRONGLY THE “GOVERNANCE PACKAGE” VOTED BY THE PARLAMENT. THIS ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE PACKAGE IS FIGHTIN THE SYMPTOMS AND NOT THE REAL ROOTS OF THE CRISIS. IT WAS FINANCIAL DEREGULATION AND SPECULATION THAT TRIGGERED HUGE DEBT AND ASSET BOOMS, NOT “IRRESPONSIBILY HIGH” PUBLIC SPENDING OR WAGE BARGAINING. ETUC SUPPORTS THE FINANCIAL TRANSACTION TAX Alessandra Mecozzi – International Secretary Oslo, 30/9/2011 PAG. 18