Susanna Riva The four main trade unions in the school sector— CISL Scuola , UIL Scuola Rua , Snals Confsal , and ANIEF —have launched a pressure campaign against the provisions of the budget law that call for a reduction in teaching and technical-administrative staff. The decision stems from the belief that such measures compromise the quality of educational provision and exacerbate worker precariousness.
Calendar of protest actions
The first event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11 , when a sit-in will be set up in Piazza Vidoni , a short walk from the Ministry of Public Administration. The event will begin at 14:00 PM and conclude around 17:00 PM, with the participation of thousands of teachers, ATA staff, and supporters from all over Italy.
That same morning, at 11:00, a press conference will be held at the Hotel Nazionale , in Piazza Monte Citorio, where the union spokespersons – Ivana Barbacci, Giuseppe D'Aprile, Elvira Serafini and Marcello Pacifico – will present their arguments.
The assemblies of November 16th
Meetings will be held during school hours at various schools on Monday, November 16th .
The assemblies will be livestreamed, allowing anyone unable to be present to follow the national leaders' statements. This opportunity will serve to strengthen internal cohesion and gather concrete proposals from school employees.
The reasons behind the protest
According to union representatives, staff cuts are a political mistake that fails to address the real needs of schools, especially in the most disadvantaged areas. "We cannot accept measures that deprive schools of resources, at a time when significant investment policies are needed," stated Ivana Barbacci, emphasizing the increased workload and the risk of increased job insecurity for employees.
The link with the population decline
Union administrators have emphasized that responding to the decline in student numbers with a proportional reduction in staff is a serious mistake . Even if the student population is decreasing, school facilities, administrative, and management needs remain essentially unchanged. For teachers, the proposal is to increase school time and encourage personalized teaching , in line with the initiatives already launched thanks to the resources of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
The participation of the Flc Cgil
Another demonstration is planned for Friday, November 20 , when the Flc Cgil union will take to the streets to reiterate its demand to cancel the cuts. This action, held in the same city, will serve to maintain high media attention and demonstrate the continued pressure on political decision-makers.
The mobilization of the four trade union federations is taking place in a series of events spread over several weeks, with the aim of persuading the government to reconsider its decision to reduce school staffing . They remain open to discussion, but reiterate that promoting school work cannot be discussed alongside measures that weaken it.