Landini Attends Nice Referendum, Emphasizes Vote for Youth, Women, and Self-Interest
"Here's to a future that values job security, empowers the young, and uplifts women. Most importantly, it's for standing up for ourselves." Such was the passionate message from CGIL's Secretary, Maurizio Landini, during his rally in Nizza Monferrato, promoting the forthcoming referendum on June 8 and 9.
Arriving at Foto Boario slightly before 3 pm, Landini was greeted by around 70 Barbera producers, followed by over 200 enthusiasts lounging in the gardens of Palazzo Crova. Accompanied by Mayor Simone Nosenzo and provincial CGIL secretary Luca Quagliotti, Landini entered amidst a flurry of handshakes, selfies, and heartfelt thanks.
"These ruinous subcontracting schemes, sub-subcontracting, and phony cooperatives need to be stamped out," Landini affirmed, among other things. "Consider, for instance, my hometown of Reggio Emilia, renowned for its Lambrusco. Isn't it somehow suspicious that a major 'ndrangheta trial didn't unfold in Reggio Calabria but in Emilia? Because crime follows the cash, and it's not merely about infiltration, but also about exploitation, black-market work, and more. These predicaments aren't exclusive to the South; they exist right here in the North, and our referendums intend to stand up to all of it."
On employment instability, Landini continued: "We have people performing the same tasks, albeit with varying rights. This unbalanced scenario breeds competition. Some individuals are left with no choice but to accept subpar conditions just to secure employment. Is true freedom achievable for someone who lives with insecurity?"
The upcoming referendum in Italy does not solely focus on the battle against organized crime but seeks to reform employees' rights, employment contracts, and citizenship, as well. Key aspects of the referendum include:
- Unfair Dismissals: The proposed reform aims to eliminate the current limit on compensation for unjustly dismissed workers. Under the current law, workers can only receive up to six months' compensation.
- Subcontracting and Work Safety: The referendum targets a law that currently exempts those who commission work from responsibility for damages caused by accidents related to the work activity. The intention is to make the person commissioning the work liable for the workers' safety during the execution of their duties.
- Fixed-Term Contracts: The referendum proposes limits on fixed-term contracts, intending to encourage the stabilization of workers with more secure employment contracts.
- Citizenship: This part of the referendum endeavors to reduce the residency requirement for non-EU foreigners to apply for Italian citizenship from ten years to five years.
- Right to Reinstatement for Unjustly Fired Employees: This referendum petition aims to restore the right to reinstatement for employees who have been unjustly fired.
While the referendum does tackle issues related to precarious employment, such as fixed-term contracts and safety in subcontracting, it does not directly address the fight against organized crime.
- Despite being in Nizza Monferrato, Landini couldn't help but bring up the suspicious lack of major 'ndrangheta trials in Reggio Calabria, his hometown, which he attributed to the intermeshing of crime, exploitation, and black-market work.
- Arriving at Foto Boario, Landini was greeted by Barbera producers who were joined by over 200 enthusiasts in Palazzo Crova's gardens, raising concerns about the prevalence of ruinous subcontracting schemes and phony cooperatives in both the North and South of Italy.
- The forthcoming referendum in Italy will not only battle organized crime but also seek to reform employees' rights, employment contracts, and citizenship, with a focus on eliminating the limit on compensation for unjustly dismissed workers.
- In his passionate message, Landini derived a connection between crime, exploitation, and job insecurity, citing the need for fair policies and legislation to support workplace wellness and health-and-wellness, as well as the empowerment of the young and women.
- The referendum aims to hold the person commissioning work liable for the workers' safety during the execution of their duties, targeting a law that currently exempts those who commission work from responsibility for damages caused by accidents related to work activity.
- The upcoming referendum in Italy also includes proposals to reduce the residency requirement for non-EU foreigners to apply for Italian citizenship, lowering it from ten to five years, and to restore the right to reinstatement for employees who have been unjustly fired.
