Can Berlusconi save Italy?

[Carole B]

Originally Posted by AllanMason

Sorry, but what's a "national contract"?

Al

My understanding of a 'national contract' - which Bossi wants to do away with at all costs - is a contract whereby, irrespective of where you live, your terms and conditions will be the same as everyone else who does the same job of work. So a contract which is negotiated on a national basis and not on a local basis.

Such contracts are widely used for state employees and people working in large national utility type industries.

Part of the Lega Nord argument is that pay should be based on the cost of living in the area where you are employed, and on the productivity of the individual or the 'local department/branch' of a company or utility... In the UK the same arguments arose for decades both for and against "London Weighting" - originally agreed to compensate workers who had to travel to work in London and for the higher cost of living when there. No longer being in the UK, or working, I don't know if this has now been rescinded, replaced or just cancelled from contracts.

[juliancoll]

No, it hasn't, LW is still very much in force.

[Nielo]

Just to whet your appetite


Among the measures adopted by the government was to declare dump sites and refuse treatment facilities in five provinces to be of ''national strategic interest'' and thus protected by the armed forces.

The cabinet also agreed on a number of temporary dump sites, the locations of which will be kept secret for the time being to avoid protests.

''We will not accept actions by a minority which disrupt activities at airports, railways and dump sites and the State will intervene stop these,'' Berlusconi warned. Anyone found guilty of organising such disorders will be punishable with up to five years in jail, while those who attempt to block waste disposal operation risk three months to one year, the premier added.

Link to full article : ANSA.it - News in English - Berlusconi takes hard line on trash