An estimated 10,000 teachers and
administrators rallied against the government's so-called 'Good
School' reform bill in Rome on Friday, organizers from USB,
UNICOBAS, and ANIEF union federations said.
Participants chanted slogans against Premier Matteo Renzi,
Education Minister Stefania Giannini, and the country's "big
three" trade union federations - CGIL, CISL, and UIL - whom they
accused of selling out to the government.
"We will continue our struggle until (the government)
withdraws its 'Good School' bill," organizers said.
Today's protest in the capital comes after thousands of
teachers dressed in mourning and holding a small light took to
the streets in a flash mob in cities and towns all over Italy in
protest against the bill, which is now before parliament.
The flash mob reportedly took place in "over 100 cities"
including Cagliari, Palermo, Milan, Reggio Calabria, Rome,
Verona, and Turin.
"In Naples 1,500 of us took to the streets to say that the
public school system is dying," said high-school teacher
Antonietta Toraldo.
"And now we want to be heard".
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