May Day, Mattarella in Pontedera: "Work is an essential foundation of democratic life"

The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella chose Pontedera to celebrate the Labor Dayon a symbolic day which saw him as a protagonist among institutions, workers and citizens in the city of Vespa.

Mattarella’s visit to the Piaggio factory

The visit of the Head of State began with a stop at Piaggio factorywhich this year celebrates 80 years of the historic Vespa. Welcomed by President Matteo Colaninno and CEO Michele Colaninno, together with the President of the Tuscany Region Eugenio Giani, the Mayor Matteo Franconi and the Minister of Labor Elvira Calderone, Mattarella visited the production line and met the workers.

After the visit to the plant, the President moved to the nearby Piaggio Museum, where he was welcomed by around two hundred children from local schools. Between singing the national anthem, tricolor flags and welcome posters, the little ones enthusiastically greeted the Head of State, while a union banner also appeared among the crowd with the writing: “Less walkways, more wages”.

The intervention of the Head of State

In his speech, Mattarella forcefully recalled the issue of safety at work: “There is a plague that shows no sign of healing, there are continuing reports of workers losing their lives at work. Safety at work remains a commitment that does not allow for waivers or distinctions. It is an unacceptable toll.” The President then reiterated the central value of work in the Italian Constitution:
Work is “an essential foundation of our democratic life”. May 1st, the head of state underlined, is “Republic Day, which is based on work”. There was also a passage on Europe and the need to strengthen its economic integration:
For Sergio Mattarella, it is necessary to “eliminate the barriers that still prevent a complete union of our internal European markets”. “It is time for vision, not for short-term measures, to proceed with courage” in favor of full “European integration” in the economic field.

Ample space was also dedicated to inequalities and new challenges in the labor market:
“The gender gap, which emerges not only from employment rates but also from the continuing disparity in salaries and careers, must be filled with a series of interventions and attention: on structural factors and territorial contexts, but also on the quality of work and services to encourage reconciliation with other life commitments”.

“The other critical point is the work of young people“, underlined the Head of State, “to be understood as a ‘reserve’ of potential development. The age of entry into the job market is still too high. In our society, young people are little listened to. There is little attention to their maturation and independence. If we look at workers defined as independent who work for a single employer, in short self-employed workers without autonomy, we discover that the largest part is made up of those under 30”. “There are numerous well-educated young people who leave our country to work abroad. There are more of those who come to Italy. In the country’s interest this trend must be reversed.”

In closing, the President addressed a greeting to citizens and young people:
“A special greeting to the young people who will meet in Rome, as is now customary, at the concert in Piazza San Giovanni. Happy Labor Day also to those who are looking for work, to those who defend it, to those who try to overcome the barriers of poor and precarious work. Happy First May to everyone”.