Trade unions representing civil
servants said Friday they have filed an appeal with the courts
over the government's freeze on contracts, including pay
increases, for public-sector workers.
The CGIL, CISL and UIL unions said proceedings are
beginning at the Court of Rome level but they expect the case
will reach the Constitutional Court for a ruling on the unions'
challenge to the legitimacy of the government freeze.
More than one year ago, unions warned of social conflict
over the freeze on contracts, that dates back to 2010.
They said that public employees are "the only category
treated in this way - conflict will be inevitable".
The three unions have planned two major demonstrations -
the first on Monday when the CISL plan to protest, while the
CGIL is leading a national general strike on December 12.
Salaries of Italy's 3.3 million public employees have been
frozen over the past five years and turnover blocked as part of
measures to curb public spending as the country is grappling
with years of economic stagnation and recession.
Huge public debt also hangs over the administration of
Premier Matteo Renzi, who is under pressure from the European
Union to cut debt and the deficit.
Even salary negotiations with public sector workers have
been frozen.
"The discrimination and the humiliation that public workers
are subjected to by the Renzi government demonstrates they are
bad bosses," said Rossana Dettori, secretary-general of the
public-sector branch of the CGIL.
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