The changeover came on Thursday, 17 September at the Welcome Hotel, during the Federation’s 4th Congress, which elected Ricardo Daniel Ceccoli as its new secretary — for years an official within the same Federation. In the background lies a goal shared with the Government: a labour market capable of valuing people and their skills.
The news was announced from the stage by Secretary General Francesca Busignani. “Marco has shown that he knows how to do things, and that he can do them,” she said.
“Call it an upgrade, call it a change of role, call it whatever you like.” Santolini will now formally take on the role of confederal secretary, a task he had until now carried out purely out of a spirit of service.
In thanking him, Busignani recalled that the work of a trade unionist “is not easy,” because “when you are dealing with people’s hardship, you don’t stop searching for a solution until you find one.”
Santolini leaves behind one of the union’s most cross-cutting federations.
It represents workers in services — including the banking sector — as well as those in commerce, bars, hotels, restaurants and canteens. The season now drawing to a close was an intense one on the bargaining front. The Federation signed the preliminary agreement on the insurance contract, securing a 13.7% pay rise over five years.
In 2026, four contracts were renewed in its sectors, all jointly signed by CSdL, CDLS and USL together with employers’ associations. The latest, signed on 8 September, brings, from 1 January 2027, one hour less work per week at the same pay for those working in bars, hotels and restaurants.
In his final report as Federation secretary, Santolini called for the union to have a role at the stage when laws are drafted, not merely once decisions have already been taken: “We want to have a say.”
He also broadened what it means to have a good job: “While salary remains a central element, the quality of work is also measured by the time it leaves for a person’s life, by advance notice of shifts, by the predictability of working hours, and by the possibility of growth.”
He gave a concrete example: cleaning staff hired at the first level who remain stuck at their starting point after twenty years. “There should be no such thing as first-class and second-class workers.”
On artificial intelligence — useful for safety and against the repetitiveness of certain tasks — his position was clear: the risk of surveillance makes it a matter for collective bargaining.
The most personal moment came with the thank-yous. Santolini said he had already grown emotional shortly before, while thanking his wife.
He then turned to Busignani “for her utmost trust” and “for her utmost support.” On his successor, he said: “I’m sorry to leave the Federation, but Ricardo has truly grown a great deal over these years.
As far as I’m concerned, it’s one of the greatest satisfactions I’ve had.” The thanks were returned from the union’s top leadership. “I thank Marco enormously for everything he has taught me over these three years,” said Busignani, closing with “a big hug.”
Ceccoli, who joined the union after years working in a factory, spoke of “a day of celebration” and urged workers to “stay united in their workplaces.” The congress also renewed the Federation’s Executive Committee, now made up of 15 members.
Greetings were brought by Secretary of State for Labour Alessandro Bevitori, who confirmed his commitment to ongoing dialogue with the trade unions. The other union confederations, employers’ associations and leaders of UIL-TuCS Romagna and Marche also took part.
The slogan chosen by USL for this congress season, “on one side only, on the side of the people,” ran through Santolini’s report as well: pay, but also time, working hours and the chance to grow.
That thread now moves with him into the confederal secretariat.
