Monte dei Paschi, workers on the island are on strike: "We're facing a staffing emergency, and we need more hiring."

A day of strike action to denounce a "growing and now unsustainable staff shortage." This is what workers at Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena have announced, with the strike scheduled for Monday, May 11th.

Over the last three years – the workers explain – in Sardinia there has been a 25% reduction in staff: 27 fewer employees out of a current total of 81. A significant contraction which has led to a sharp increase in workloads, "exposing workers to increasingly complex operating conditions and to potential legal and disciplinary risks".

Attempts to find a shared solution "have ended unsuccessfully," the workers continue, "with the company's refusal to participate in the conciliation process initiated by the Italian Banking Association, effectively closing any room for discussion." "At this point, a strike is inevitable," they declare.

The company's union representatives also highlight a structural issue related to generational turnover: currently, there are only three employees under 35, while the average age is around 55. "New hires are needed," the union representatives emphasize, "to ensure the company's operational sustainability and future prospects."

First CISL Sardinia's position is clear. " We have used all available tools, up to and including the conciliation procedure. The Bank chose not to engage in dialogue," says Ettore Erriquez, Secretary General. "When even the most basic willingness to engage in dialogue is lacking, the strike is not an ideological choice, but a consequence. It is a decision that reflects the gravity of the situation and the responsibility that now falls entirely on the Company. We demand sustainable working conditions and respect for those who ensure the bank's operations every day. We cannot continue like this."

Fisac CGIL Sardinia also strongly criticizes a banking model that undermines professionalism. "The employees of Banca Monte dei Paschi in Sardinia have been on the front lines during a challenging decade, facing instability and uncertainty with a great sense of responsibility and professionalism, qualities that have not been adequately reflected in the company's decisions," emphasizes Marcello Simula, Secretary General.

(Unioneonline)