Catherwood LibraryILR School

In a move that has solidified opposition among Italy’s labor movement, the center-right government of Italian President Silvio Berlusconi yesterday reached a binding decision to implement labor market legislation that will severely weaken Italy’s job-security laws. The response of Italy’s trade unions was swift, with moderate trade unions Cisl and Uil---the second and third largest in Italy---joining Italy’s more radical largest trade union Cgil in promising a nationwide general strike. Cisl and Uil had declined to join in Cgil’s call for a strike until the government decided to break off negotiations with labor leaders, and committed itself to increasing labor market flexibility without providing funding to establish safety nets for those laid off as a result.