In late January 2004, the social partners in the Italian chemicals sector signed an agreement providing for close collaboration between companies and trade unions in implementing the 'Responsible Care' programme, on the basis of a joint approach. Responsible Care is the chemicals industry's
In January 2004, trade unions and employers’ organisations in the Italian textiles and garments sector presented a joint platform of demands to the European Commission, proposing measures aimed at ensuring the future of the industry in the EU, in the face of increasing competition.
A conference held in January 2004 highlighted the problem of workplace 'bullying' or 'mobbing' in Italy. Research has found that some 1.5 million workers suffer mobbing at work, and the issue is being regarded with increasing concern. There have been a number of proposals for legislation on the
In January 2004, trade unions and management at the Italian subsidiaries of the US-based ExxonMobil oil group signed an agreement on workforce reductions. The deal reduces substantially the number of redundancies earlier proposed by management, provides support to redundant workers and offers
In November 2003, Italy's Cisl trade union confederation held its 'organisational and programmatic assembly' in Rome. The key issues debated included future unity of action with the other two main union confederations (Cgil and Uil) and responses to the government's controversial proposals on
In December 2003, sectoral employers' organisations and trade unions signed a renewal of the pay part of the national collective agreement for the Italian chemicals industry, without resort to any industrial action and before the old provisions were due to expire. The deal provides for an average
On 7 November 2003, the Fiom-Cgil trade union organised an eight-hour strike in the Italian metalworking industry as part of its campaign for the reopening of negotiations on the sector's collective agreement, which was signed in May 2003 by employers and the other two main metalworkers' unions, Fim
In November 2003, the regional organisations of Italy's Cgil, Cisl and Uil trade union confederations jointly organised a day of protests against terrorism in Tuscany, following accusations of collusion between some union members and the Red Brigades terrorist group. Representatives of most
In October 2003, trade unions and the Italian public sector bargaining agency, Aran, signed a national collective agreement for employees of regional, provincial and local authorities and other local bodies. The agreement provides for an overall monthly wage increase of EUR 106 and makes changes to
On 4 October 2003, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) staged a demonstration in Rome, in collaboration with Italy's main union confederations, on the occasion of the opening of the EU Intergovernmental Conference, which will consider a new constitutional Treaty. The demonstration called