That the triple Italian trade union bureaucracy (CGIL-CISL-UIL) has always acceded to the requests of the bosses regarding the introduction of more casual and flexibilized labor, and the dismantling of collective bargaining agreements, is no secret. But always, before capitulating, as a question of “responsibility”, the unions had to mount a “circus” of struggle to justify themselves before the rank and filers, before setting things up for the next defeat.
After the “cordial” dealings between the metal workers union (FIOM-FIM-UILM) and the bosses Federmeccanica, the reps decided that it was time to call an 8-hour strike in the face of the ridiculous offer from the bosses of only a 76 Euro basic wage (for fifth category) against the 130 Euros demanded by the workers of that sector, the most unionized and combative. The bosses explained that they could increase their offer only in exchange for greater flexibilization; they demand that Saturday be a full workday, without any need for negotiations with the shop steward committee (RSU). They thereby open up the possibility for a 60 hour week at times of peak demand. But this could unleash a storm, since 90% of the workers voted for a platform that excludes full-time Saturday work.
A joint communiqué, dated December 30, informs that “in the face of the open and responsible positions of the union delegation, which represent the maximum possible mediation, the Federmeccanica has kept up a constant negative... for which we have proposed a recess until January 9 asking the industrialists to modify their positions”. It must be pointed out that during the maximum mediation the union was disposed to conceding an extension of the current collective bargaining agreement, which protects the bosses from any requests for wage increases during its period of enforcement.
In the same communiqué an 8-hour strike was announced, without a set date. They say it will be between January 9 and 16, which means they have no intention of preparing it and even open the door to the possibility of suspending it.
In the last few years, the loss of acquisitive power in wages has been important, exceeding, according to some calculations, 10%. The same CGIL (former Communist) “think tank”, Ires, says that between 1933 and 2004 a sustained (although low) increase in workers' productivity can be verified, but the wages and salaries do not follow the same rhythm. Wage labor has lost terrain vis a vis capital.
The policies of labor flexibilization characterized Prodi's first government, which also became a part of history because it protagonized the greatest attack upon the living conditions of the workers (in spite of which it registered the lowest strike rate since the fifties). The rush to sign a “pilot” contract like that of the metal workers reveals that the bureaucracy wants to demonstrate to the bourgeoisie and to the center-left —which with Romano Prodi is candidate to return to government- that they can play a central role in the taming of the masses whose gains will be attacked by the future government of the Unione.
The secretary of the FIOM (left-wing), Gianni Rinaldini, exponent of the PRC of Bertinotti, said that the platform had been moderated in order not to break union unity with the FIM (Catholic right-wing) and the UILM (Socialist). Rinaldini does omits the fact that the FIOM is the ultra-majority among metal workers, particularly in the big metal, naval and iron and steel companies and plants.
After 40 hours of strikes in the last few months (the latest was the total strike at Ferrari in Maranello on December 15), the workers are getting ready to defend the collective bargaining agreement and to reject the flexibility that the bureaucracy want to let pass. The “unity” of the bureaucracy works for the bosses. The workers have to achieve unity among the factory shop stewards and organize the struggle doubling all bets.