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Delicate Balance of Power
Guglielmo Epifani, leader of Italy's largest trade union, delivers a speech during the CGIL national congress in Rimini, Italy, earlier this month.
(By Venanzio Raggi -- Associated Press)
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Those who have sat across the table from CGIL negotiators operating under Epifani's leadership say he must take a combative line because of the hard-core leftist elements that still largely rule the organization.
"He is a prisoner of forces within his union, " said Massimo Calearo, president of the Federmeccanica, the employers' group that negotiated the deal for the metalworkers.
Epifani has proved a moderating force in some regards. He patched up a rift he inherited from Cofferati with the two other major unions, which dated back to CGIL's decision to strike alone over a previous metalworkers' contract. He talks of a need for cooperation with industry to bring about needed restructuring, particularly at the troubled national air carrier, Alitalia SpA, which critics say is bloated with unproductive workers.
Some analysts now envision a more peaceful period of labor relations in Italy. The employers' association is disenchanted with Berlusconi because of the sluggish economy. If Berlusconi loses next month's elections, yielding to a center-left government, some anticipate that Epifani will join with the other unions to discuss reforms to the contracting system, giving employers greater flexibility to set wage standards and hours.
"This will be the model," said Treu, the former labor minister. "It's a test to see whether the union actions are in favor of competitiveness. Epifani has been slowly promoting this strategy. He has always been a reformist."
Doubts persist, however, about how far he is willing to go -- an emblem of the larger questions about old Europe's ability to adapt to new times.
"Epifani is a obviously a very well-balanced person, a very moderate person," said Luigi Angeletti, secretary general of the Union of Italian Laborers, the country's third-largest trade union. "The problem is that the organization he represents is neither well mannered nor balanced."
Epifani himself rules out any talk of fresh concessions. "It would be wrong to reduce the importance of national contracts," he said, wearing with pride the label of militancy.
"It's a tough union," he said. "But someone has to look out for the workers."
