Landini: ‘38 million Italians are paying for austerity measures’

Milan, 11 December (LaPresse) – “A general strike is always a political act. Against austerity measures that do not help the country and are only being implemented to reduce the deficit and buy weapons. Beyond the lies, we have been in an industrial crisis for 33 months.‘ So said Maurizio Landini, secretary of the CGIL trade union, to La Repubblica. ’Strike to increase wages and pensions,‘ he added. ’We are asking the government to return 25 billion in extra taxes paid over the last three years by 38 million workers and pensioners as a result of tax drainage. To tax income and profits progressively: enough with the flat tax, it is unacceptable. To introduce a solidarity contribution of 1.3% on 500,000 Italians with net annual incomes above two million: worth 26 billion. A pension reform: those who promised to cancel the Fornero law are raising the age to 70. New industrial and housing policies. And finally, to repeal laws that have increased job insecurity and fuelled subcontracting and workplace deaths. It is a social strike. But also a political one, of course. It calls for a change in the Meloni government’s misguided policies. It demands a future of peace and social justice for the younger generations.