ITALY: Public sector workers to strike against Iraq war

ROME — On March 4, the general secretary of Funzione Pubblica CGIL (the public sector workers' union affiliate of the General Confederation of Italian Workers) announced that there would be a one-day public sector general strike on March 15, involving millions of national and local government workers, health employees, firefighters and those who work for state-owned companies. A national demonstration will take place on the same day in Milan.

Laimer Armuzzi informed the CGIL that it was calling the strike because there is a "logical bond between peace and workers' human and social rights".

"Peace is ... a responsibility taken up by the international community, a commitment which must be defended by unions, by the world of labour, by every working man and woman. This is the reason, for our opposition, with no ifs or buts, to the war in Iraq and support for a policy of peace and justice in the Middle East, above all between Israel and Palestine."

Armuzzi noted that Funzione Pubblica CGIL's opposition to a war against Iraq would not be different even if the UN Security Council approved the attack.

"Our protest is also against the Italian government led by Silvio Berlusconi government, which has worked to divide Europe, denied support to the French-German initiative [to avoid war] and tags rather humbly along behind [US President George] Bush's militaristic administration. It is a government that also works each day to attack the social rights of the Italian people, the rights of the workers' and the unity of Italy."

From Green Left Weekly, March 12, 2003.

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From GLW issue 529