A first piece has been put in place. Public sector employees and wage-earners will receive a 3% increase for 2025 and a 2% advance for 2026, but the real negotiation over the full contract renewal begins now. The agreement between the Government and the unions closes the gap left open after the previous contract expired at the end of 2024, and opens the discussion on the new one. For Francesca Busignani, Secretary General of USL, the goal is to reach the finish line by the end of the year.
Busignani, the 3% for 2025 was your red line. In the end you managed to secure it.
“Yes. Both the public sector contract and the wage-earners’ contract had expired at the end of 2024. As unions, we set a clear condition: recognition of 3% for the past year. We managed to obtain it.”
For 2026, however, what arrives is a 2% advance.
“Exactly, but it is precisely an advance. That means the remaining part of the percentage for the current year still needs to be discussed. The agreements cover both public employees and wage-earners, with the same percentages.”
So the economic agreement unblocks the situation. How much time are you now giving yourselves to reach the actual contract?
“I hope we can close it by the end of the year. To do that, both sides need to be proactive. We will have to address what is still missing, from the economic side to the regulatory one, including the duration of the contract.”
This first phase is also closing with a change of counterparts. How would you assess the discussions held so far?
“On the Government’s side, we found willingness to engage. I want to acknowledge the work done by the Secretary of State for Internal Affairs and by Milena Gasperoni, who followed this phase for the Civil Service. Now the talks will continue with Laura Gobbi: I know her, and I am confident she will be pragmatic. I hope for a swift negotiation — which doesn’t mean rushing things, but working concretely to achieve results.”
The Government is also focusing on making the public administration more efficient, particularly in light of the European path. How far can that go?
“We can agree on improving efficiency, but that cannot simply mean piling more work onto the same person. It has to mean organizing work better. The Government will have its own regulatory requests, also with an eye to EU association, and we will present ours.”
Meanwhile, the cost of living keeps biting. How much of that do these increases actually manage to recover?
“Contract renewals have not fully offset the inflation surge of recent years. Today inflation is slowing, but prices that went up haven’t come back down. Wage increases are necessary, but they are not enough on their own.”
And this is where welfare comes into play.
“Exactly. If I have to wait months for an appointment in the public system and am forced to spend 150 euros in the private sector, that money still comes out of the household budget regardless. Efficient, accessible public services mean protecting purchasing power.”
Is there a risk that the middle class ends up paying the highest price?
“Yes. Those in difficulty must be helped, but we need to prevent the middle class — squeezed by costs and levies — from slipping into the lower income brackets. Support shouldn’t be handed out indiscriminately, but the criteria shouldn’t be so strict that they exclude almost everyone either. We shouldn’t just be surviving: people should be able to reach the end of the month with dignity.”
USL also reported cases of young people being paid less than four euros gross per hour. USOT responded by saying an entire sector shouldn’t be criminalized.
“And indeed, we are not talking about the whole sector. However, we have received several reports of young workers with truly shameful pay slips. I’m glad USOT took that stance, because we can work together to bring those who aren’t doing their duty back in line, and to give credit to the businesses that do things right.”
