The “CISL of the Lakes” is born

The merger of the Italian Confederation of Workers’ Unions (CISL) of Varese with that of Como was a matter that involved both “heart and mind”, according to the Varese secretary, Carmela Tascone. This minor revolution culminated in the first congress at the Ville Ponti Conference Centre, which was marked by significant participation on the part of the “sister unions” the CGIL, the UIL and the Swiss Trade Union, the employer associations (CNA, Artigiani, API and UNIVA), the Chamber of Commerce, the Mayors of Varese and Como, the Prefect of Como and the Regional Councillor of the Democratic Party, Alessandro Alfieri.

“United” was the slogan of the Congress, and the delegates present in the Napoleonic Hall responded with a unanimous vote. The two secretariats will merge and the newly created “CISL of the Lakes” will be led by Carmela Tascone.

This step was necessary. “We’re uniting forces in order to free up resources,” said the Varese secretary, even though everyone knows that there will be a lot of resistance to the change.

The statements by the Como secretary of the CISL, Gerardo Larghi (see photo below), and his Varese colleague, are very different. Both of them are connected with the best Italian Catholic tradition, especially to the democracy of human value that was so dear to Aldo Moro. So, it is no accident that, in his conclusions, the new secretary explicitly mentioned the example of the founding fathers.

The reference, by both, to some recent statements by Pope Francis is striking. As a trade union is also a power, according to Secretary Tascone, it is essential “to renew in order best to serve the people we represent”, maintaining a profile of “sobriety”. And then, “Both state and society must respect the person.”

Larghi mentioned the social doctrine of the church, which allows identifying “a third solution, instead of the aggressive and individualistic capitalism that abandons everyone to his own destiny, leaving him alone to face his needs, and the statism that is as pretentious as it is expensive and poorly effective.”

The two statements also tackled the burning topics of the moment, without making allowances for politics or for anyone who, despite getting extremely broad consensus from the people (read Five Star Movement), “insists on not taking responsibility for the change”. Tascone and Larghi did not hide their concern about a crisis that continues to cut jobs and about the imminent shortage of unemployment benefit, which 30,000 people in Lombardy depend on. Then there was the question of Malpensa, and the destiny of SEA Handling and of 2500 employees, problems that need to find a solution with active policies, which, according to Tascone, should also be extended to those who are not covered today.

Bargaining, training and the confederate spirit are the foundations on which the managing group in Como have worked. Larghi recalled the teaching of the economist Luigino Bruni and the need to restore a sense of community. However, having a rich and glorious history is not sufficient to create something as new and complex as the “CISL of the Lakes”. And so, the Como secretary called on another Francesco, the Saint of Assisi for help. “Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible and suddenly, you are doing the impossible.”

The CISL of Varese and of Como have already done the impossible.