General strike successful or not? The two sides of the coin
Then, it strike he succeeded? “Yes” some few say, “no” all the others. “Numerically it failed, but it was nonetheless a political success for the CGIL”, Which thus would put itself at the head of the opposition to Draghi government, argue the most politically shrewd.
At its announcement, some commentators declared themselves enthusiastic about the return of social conflict, which if there is it is wrong to require that it be left submerged. To demand the renunciation of the strike in the name of the unity of the country in the face of the pandemic it would have been arbitrary and exaggerated: the strike is a right guaranteed by our Constitution, therefore always legitimate.
The general strike it is a strange act, which should be resorted to in extreme cases. In this case, they strike the small extent of the claims, which concerned tax matters, and also the fact that these claims were not part of a negotiation. Of course, in a real strike, the counterpart is the company directions, or, if we want to use a more brisk term, i masters. One gets the impression that many people who are not very old even remember and conceive the old type of strike, the purpose of which was to force the hand of the bosses in the course of a contractual negotiation. This was achieved by inflicting losses on owners, or shareholders, or capitalists. In the current popular view, everyone has forgotten the bosses’ counterpart, and a strike has a public counterpart, some organ of the state. It is a demonstration of protest and political pressure usually aimed at the government. Here too, however, it is necessary to distinguish the type of governments and social and trade union policies.
There was once the corporate consociation, in which it was admitted that the trade unions, and the major opposition party, the PCI, had their own recognized voice in social policies. In fact, in those days there was a distinction between political and social representation, and it was argued that workers needed both. But that time, which was running out even before Renzi, was decidedly truncated by Renzi. From the economic claims And social of the popular masses, for example avoiding an increase in the retirement age, and various types of tax, urban, environmental amnesties, successfully dealt with the new political groups, the 5 Star Movement and the League.
General strike called as part of a union identity crisis?
And i labor unions? Now, the union leaders were from Dragons to express their opinions and requests, but not in the context of a negotiation. Draghi never promised Landini that he would do as Landini asked. Landini seemed shocked rather than disappointed. For some reason our current unions seem… out of place. There seems to be no more matter to negotiate, neither with companies nor with the government.
One would suspect that the general strike was called as part of a union identity crisis. How come? Two hypotheses can be made. The first is that, in spite of everything, the unions are used to make employment contracts, and of course to obtain from the counterparties the maximum for their members. Without this role, they lose their following in the long run. But unfortunately in Italy there are no more masters, the real counter-parties. In fact, there are no longer any large companies, those with which it could have been profitable and rewarding to engage in battle. With an industrial structure as pulverized as the present one, union activity becomes more difficult, even if it could remain socially relevant and interesting. Striking against small businesses can have bad results.
The second hypothesis, which was suggested by Dario di Vico, is that the majority of the political and social problems facing the country do not have employment relationships at their center. For example, Landini was annoyed by the loss of some crumbs, but it is a fact that the country needs a serious tax reform, and Draghi, given the composition of his government, is politically incapable of taking it upon himself. There energy policy, the environmental policy, the immigration policy these are issues not without repercussions also for the relations of work, but they are not centered there. They require patient information and training of the voters, of citizenship. Therefore it is the political Left that has or could have a leading role. Which could be joined by a Union a little more reflective than the current one.
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