On June 18, 2025, at the Provincial Command of the Cosenza Fire Brigade, a union meeting promoted by Conapo – the most representative union of the National Corps – took place in the presence of the national leaders and numerous members of the body from all over Calabria.
Meeting, strongly desired by the regional secretary Massimo Conforti and by the vice regional secretary as well as provincial secretary of Cosenza Michele Leonetti, saw the participation of the general secretary Marco Piergallini, of the general secretary general Riccardo Borassi and the member of the national secretariat Giacomo Vespo.
After the institutional greetings, the works were opened by the projection of a documentary that retraced the thirty years of the history of the union, from its foundation in 1995 – by Antonio Brizzi, Riccardo Boriassi and three other colleagues – up to the most recent conquests obtained in the economic and social security sphere, with the recognition of the National Fire Brigade as a police force as a civil system.
Particularly touching was the moment dedicated to the memory of Antonio Brizzi, founder and historical general secretary of the Conapo, who died prematurely in 2021. His figure was remembered for the incessant commitment aimed at strengthening the role and dignity of the body staff.
During the meeting, the national leadership illustrated the state of the ongoing trade union disputes and the strategic objectives that Conapo intends to pursue, with a specific focus on the critical issues of Calabria: deficiency of staff, see of the means, inadequacy of the operating offices and need to strengthen the protection of staff health.
“The wide participation found in Cosenza testifies to the strong sense of belonging and the spirit of service that distinguish the Calabrian firefighters. The Conapo will continue to be by their side to obtain adequate resources, enhancement of organic and modern means, so that even in this region the highest level of safety to citizenship can be guaranteed ” – said the secretary general Marco Piergallini.
Among the topics addressed: contractual renewal, protection of health and legal protection, reorganization of careers, causes of service, social security and pensions. A point that emerged strongly from the debate was the commitment of the Conapo to concretize the opening of the permanent detachment of Trebisacce, in the Upper Ionian Cosentino.
Despite the numerous reminders advanced over the years by the Provincial Secretariat of Cosenza and the recent press releases, this need to date still remains unrealized. The National Conapo has announced that, also thanks to the synergy with the Provincial Secretariat of Cosenza and the constant stresses from the territory, concrete steps are finally being registered towards the establishment of the headquarters. The union reiterated its commitment to continue with determination on this path, maintaining a constant confrontation with the institutions, the Department and the Ministry of the Interior.
In conclusion, the Conapo addressed an appeal to the Minister of the Interior Matteo planted and to the Undersecretary Emanuele Prisco so that “priority was given to the strengthening of the National Fire Brigade in the province of Cosenza, not only in terms of staff and instrumental equipment, but above all with the opening of the new operational headquarters of Trebisacce”.
“It is necessary to intervene urgently to strengthen the presence of the firefighters in the area – said the General Secretariat of the Conapo – guaranteeing adequate structures, modern means and an adequate number of operating units. We also ask for particular attention to personnel health, with concrete interventions on prevention and protection from oncological pathologies, which must become national priority “.
