Brussels, 24/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - On 24 October the Italian unions, CGIL, CISL and UIL, affiliated to the European Confederation of Trade Unions (ETUC), began strike action against pension reform proposed by the Berlusconi government. This action is also being followed by the FIOM, FIM and UILM unions, affiliated to the European metalworkers' Federation (EMF).
This strike is backed by both the ETUC and EMF. John Monks, General Secretary of the ETUC, made the following declaration in this connection, pointing out that the union movement had always refused solutions impose on them: "We know that pensions are currently creating problems in several European countries. Solutions can only be found through dialogue with workers' representatives". He added that, "the strike in Italy is consequently the price that the Berlusconi government is paying for its ignorance". This feeling was echoed by the Deputy General Secretary of the EMF, Bart Samyn who stated that, "the only way of finding a solution is to have concrete, structured and positive dialogue".