The long-awaited trade union meeting took place with the metropolitan mayor Federico Basile on the establishment of the special company “Peloritani social services”. Mayor Basile announced that the Metropolitan Council convened for next Thursday 5 February will not decide on the establishment of the aforementioned special company, since, following the request of some councillors, the session will be characterized by a discussion which will be open to the intervention of trade union organizations to further explore the topic of the special company.
The Administration’s desire to “launch a new management model based on efficiency, quality of services and protection of workers’ rights” was reiterated. «The establishment of the Special Agency – declared the mayor Federico Basile – represents a strategic step to make the organization of social services more efficient and guarantee concrete responses to citizens’ needs. This path pays the utmost attention to the protection of workers, who are a fundamental resource of the system.” The mayor also underlined how the new model of the Special Agency is designed to combine employment stability, enhancement of professionalism and overall improvement of the services offered to the community.
The Administration has confirmed its willingness to continue the dialogue with unions and workers in the next phases of the process, so that the transition towards the new Special Company takes place in a shared, transparent way and in compliance with the guarantees provided by law.
“During the meeting with the mayor we reiterated our clear and coherent position regarding the prospects of the approximately 800 social service workers of the metropolitan city, some with over 20 years of precarious employment, who, with commitment and dedication, guarantee transport, sanitation and Asacom services. In this sense, we officially proposed to Mayor Basile to provide, in the event of the establishment of the special company “Peloritani social services”, a formal political act to be approved by the Metropolitan Council which explicitly and unequivocally provides for the protection and guarantee of employment through the internalisation of all 800 social service workers currently employed by the entrusted cooperative.
In consideration of these further innovations and taking into account that the Metropolitan Council of 5 February will be characterized by an important interlocutory and non-decisional passage, we have revoked the sit-in planned in conjunction with the council session.
Taking into account that the state of unrest remains, we reserve the right to reconvene a new demonstration on the occasion of any new council meeting. We reiterate our firm position which we will reiterate on the occasion of the open metropolitan council on February 5th: work cannot be touched” declared Ivan Tripodi, general secretary of Uil Messina, and Livio Andronico, general secretary of Uil Fpl Messina.
«Identify a path that, similarly to what happened for the Messina Social City, allows the protection of all workers currently employed in the Asacom, Transport, Personal Hygiene Assistance services and have guarantees from the Administration that this is possible». This is the position expressed by the FP CGIL during the meeting held at Palazzo dei Leoni with the Metropolitan Mayor. For the union, maintaining the employment levels of the over 800 employees who, for years now, have been working under contract in the services of the Metropolitan City, represents an essential point from which no steps can be taken backwards.
«The internalisation of social services – highlights the FP CGIL – must also be an opportunity to enhance skills and greater guarantees of services for users, who must be guaranteed support and assistance not only during the school period but throughout the entire year. There are concrete possibilities, from what was communicated during the meeting, that the future company can also manage further activities aimed at vulnerable categories”. Pending the presentation of the new resolution by the Administration, the social partners will be heard in the metropolitan council on February 5th.