Leader of Italy?s largest union CGIL, fierce opponent of the government of conservative prime minister Silvio Berlusconi (see WIT for ), and an immensely popular left-wing political figure, Sergio Cofferati is preparing to step down as secretary-general of the 5.6 million member union at the end of next month. After twenty-five years of working for the union, Mr. Cofferati will be returning to his job at tire and cable manufacturer Pirelli---a job which will leave him time to direct CGIL's research foundation and use it to promote a pan-European labor movement. Cofferati has long believed that the only answer to the resurgence of conservative governments in Europe and to long-term pressures to succumb to American-style corporate capitalism, is a united labor movement pushing for a socially responsible Europe.
See "Mission Europe for departing hero of Italy's workers", LAURA PAUL BETTS, Financial Times, August 8, 2002