Sabina Barresi will continue to lead the Fai Cisl of Messina, the federation that follows the workers of the agricultural, food and environmental sectors of the province. The confirmation came at the end of the VIII Provincial Congress which was celebrated in Giardini Naxos, in the presence of the National Secretary General of Fai Cisl, Onofrio Rotaof the Secretary General of Fai Cisl Sicily Adolfo Scotti and of the Secretary General of the Cisl Messina, Antonino Alibrandi. To support Sabina Barresi the confirmed provincial secretariat composed of Gaetano Merlino and Gino Lunghitano. In a rapidly evolving historical and social context, marked by global challenges such as climate change, economic crises and technological transformations, Congress represented a crucial opportunity to take stock of the situation, analyze critical issues and opportunities, and define future strategies for the protection of rights and the promotion of sustainable development. In his congress relationship, the general secretary Sabina Barresi has dealt with in depth themes of great importance for the world of work and for the future of the sector. “The economic and social situation requires us an analysis of the challenges and opportunities for the agri -food and environmental sector – he said – keeping in mind the role of the union in the protection of workers’ rights and in the promotion of sustainable development. European policies and PNRR have an imposing impact on the agri -food and environmental sector in Sicily and the benefits for workers and for the territory must be maximized. 3,530 are the projects proposed in the metropolitan city of Messina (3,515 municipal and 15 provincials) for a total commitment of 1.9 billion euros but, to date, only 12% has been spent concretely and, considering that they expire in the spring of 2026, the risk is that they must be dispersed “. Barresi underlined the flexion of the agri -food companies of the province, which went from 8,070 in 2008 to 6,370 in 2024, even if in the last 5 years there is a slight growth (6,167 of 2019 against 6,370 of 2024) also consequent the decrease in the workers in the sector, in particular the seasonal passes from 13,900 of 2019 to 11,978 of 2024 with almost 2 thousand workers. In five years. Important, in Messina, the fishing sector that boasts 387 vehicles on the approximately 2,500 regional, even if it requires generational change and income support measures. «We must continue in good bargaining, in the qualification of professionalism, in quality and safety in work.
Fai Cisl Messina – said Barresi – has been confirmed a strong and cohesive union organization, capable of facing the challenges of the present and the future with determination and with a strong spirit of unity. The appeal is that of the unity and mobilization of all workers in the agricultural, food and environmental sectors, to build together a future of sustainable development, social justice and protection of rights “. Chapter who looks to the future is that of artificial intelligence. “We need a reflection on the impact of new technologies on the world of work, focusing in particular on the opportunities and risks for the agri -food and environmental sector, and on the proposals for an ethical and social management of intelligence. It must be understood what ethical and social conditionality could be ». Therefore the participation of workers and economic democracy, with the proposals of the CISL and the specificities of the territory with an in -depth analysis of the agricultural and agri -food sector in Sicily and in the province of Messina, the identification of strengths and critical issues and the formulation of proposals for the development of the sector and the protection of the territory. Barresi also analyzed the working conditions in the reference sectors, focusing in particular on the protection of workers’ rights, on the promotion of health and safety, and on the role of the national collective work agreement. «The Fai Cisl Messina – finally concluded – was confirmed a strong and cohesive union organization, capable of facing the challenges of the present and the future with determination and with a strong spirit of unity. The appeal is that of the unity and mobilization of all workers in the agricultural, food and environmental sectors, to build together a future of sustainable development, social justice and protection of rights “. Instead, he designed a national framework with the Sicilian contours, the general secretary of the Fai Cisl National, Onofrio Rota, who highlighted how “agri -food and florovivaism are an excellence of Italy but – he underlined – the export policies are needed because it has always been and will be a strategic asset for the country which, with its 600 billion agro -food supply chain, represents an important part of the internal product. gross. For Sicily it is a sector of rebirth, a region that has a great vocation for agri -food and the territory of Messina is an important example. Focusing on the agro -food is essential, but there is also a need for a well -kept territory. This means addressing the theme of forestation, which is a heritage not only for the hydrogeological instability, but also for the improvement of the territory. What is the reclamation consortium as strategic, because good water must be guaranteed to good agriculture. Then there is the theme of good work also in Sicily, which we must, let’s say enhance. What is the good job? – Rota asked the audience – the one without corporate and exploitation, made of correct wages. And for the quality of the product there are also the communication routes for which there is a need for synergistic work where regional institutions together with agricultural and trade union representative associations must think of a pact for the territory of Sicily. It is necessary to enhance the road infrastructures, interports, also bring to know how to put them together so as to give a push to the market also of small producers who, if consortium and gathered in cooperatives, can respond to the territory, to corporate performance, to good work and enhance Sicilian productions “. The secretary general of Cisl Messina, Antonino Alibrandi, spoke of infrastructures for the enhancement of the agri -food and floroVivaistic sector. «The infrastructure of the territory is one of the themes that the CISL of Messina, together with its categories, has for some time asks. We need to build a system that looks at the reorganization of the entire provincial territory, which is very articulated. The artisan areas must be redeveloped, as well as port ones, for entry goods, but above all to send our products of agri -food, florovivaism and bring our products to Italy arrive but also in Europe. We have great excellence – said Alibrandi – abandoned for years and resist only thanks to the craftsmen who have maintained their ancient crafts. Today they are an added value, for the employment but also for the maintenance of ancient crafts and the identity of the territory “. “The great challenge – underlined the Secretary General of Fai Cisl Sicily, Adolfo Scotti – of the next four years will be to launch the agri -food sector of Sicily even outside Sicily. It is a FAI challenge because we believe in this sector that in our region has the largest number in Italy of transformation companies, unfortunately not for employees. There is a rediscovery of the agri -food and florovivaistic, thanks to the community and regional policies, many young people are getting closer because they believe it, believe in the environment, believe in the bio system. But the connection channels are needed, because in Sicily there is a road problem and therefore also the transport of products becomes difficult to enhance exports “