“From 17 December 2024, for one year, throughout the national territory we have shared a path whereby we will no longer witness the wildcat strikes. Among the new features, mobilizations during the most intense holiday periods will be prevented by the new exemptions. And right during the Jubilee there will be particular protections for some cities and regions starting from Rome and Lazio”. The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, says this in an interview with the newspaper “The Messenger”.
Why was it not possible to reach an agreement with the unions and postpone yesterday’s strike? “On the one hand – replies the deputy prime minister of the League – there are irresponsible unions who use yet another Friday to extend the weekend to the detriment of the country; on the other, a TAR judge has canceled the injunction which would have reduced the hours of mobilization. Result: violence, cities in chaos, poor services, queues with related pollution. Maurizio Landini – he continues – he should apologise: his words on social revolt are a cover for those who now insult and attack even women and men of the police force. The CGIL seems to have forgotten about it, but they are workers too. Furthermore, some point out to me that traffic jams are so harmful that one could speak of environmental damage.”
Should the law regulating strikes be changed? “It is necessary to think and evaluate changes because by now we would be surprised if the CGIL announced a working Friday”, he adds.
For Salvini “the strikes have never involved large sections of workers, despite Landini’s declarations. But if a citizen knows he could run into inconveniences he takes refuge in private vehicles“.
On the quality of local public transport “we are one step away from agreement on the new contract for the sector. Another meeting at the MIT is on the agenda for the 18th. Yet – the minister points out – some unions have preferred to take to the streets with Palestinian flags and red flags, unleashing the chaos”.
Finally, the successor to Ernesto Maria Ruffini to the Revenue Agency, it should be “someone who will have to have a very different approach from those who chose to send 3 million intimidating letters over Christmas”.