EGN NEWS DESK
Consider Venice. Union leaders say the chains — which embody such giants as Hilton Worldwide Brands and Star Hotels and have vital affect over two of the Veneto area’s strongest employers’ federations — have refused their calls for for increased wages since 2018, frequently derailing talks on the eleventh hour to push for concessions that may weaken staff’ rights.
“The employers requested a proportion improve in fixed-term contracts, extra flexibility in working hours … and the introduction of ‘availability’ clauses, the place the worker stays on the firm’s disposal 24 hours a day [and] the corporate can name him again to work at very quick discover by paying a small monetary compensation,” mentioned Boscaro, one of many lead negotiators on the union aspect. “So we refused.”
With the newest union proposal in July— which included inflation-adjusted pay rises and extra rights for brand spanking new dad and mom — the large chains merely walked away, Boscaro added. Hence the determined strike, which was timed to generate most inconvenience on the Venice International Film Festival.
“It’s not as if the employees have many different weapons,” mentioned Cecilia de Pantz, common secretary of the CGIL’s Venetian department.
None of the large chains or employers federations was keen to remark, although Confindustria’s Veneto department despatched a press release to POLITICO arguing that it was the unions, not the employers, that stonewalled in the course of the July assembly, pointing to different latest negotiations that did lead to contract renewal. De Pantz, however, mentioned that assembly produced a lot of proposals and counter-proposals that have been rejected by either side.
While staff throughout Italy stay lumped with low wages, the reason for the inverted dynamic in Venice is basically sector-specific. Tourism work is by nature seasonal and infrequently precarious, giving staff much less bargaining energy than these, say, on an meeting line that runs always all year long. The mass closures throughout Covid, mentioned Boscaro, decreased staff’ choices additional whereas accustoming them to the decrease wages imposed throughout furlough.
Tourism can also be a sector the place it’s comparatively straightforward to substitute low cost labor from overseas, as a result of lack of formal {qualifications} required in lots of areas. Exacerbated by Italy’s demographic decline and the scarcity of Italians keen to place up with unhealthy pay, that has led to steadily worsening circumstances, Boscaro mentioned. As a end result, whereas the price of staying in a five-star lodge in its historic heart can now run into the hundreds of euros, the employees servicing these accommodations wrestle close to the poverty line. For them, official information suggesting that issues can solely get higher presents nothing however chilly consolation.
