Italian unions clash

The decision by Italy's second biggest trade union confederation, the CSIL, to organise a demonstration on jobs on 29 January provoked a clash with CGIL, the country's largest confederation. Walter Cerfada, one of CGIL's national leaders described the CSIL's initiative as "stupid" arguing that such demonstrations had in the past always been organised jointly by Italy's three main confederations, CGIL, CSIL and the much smaller UIL. Pierpaola Bareta of CSIL rejected the criticism arguing that CGIL had opposed its proposals for joint action and accusing CGIL of being unwilling to act against Italy's centre-left government.