Dear Director, I am the Chairman of a Committee whose name "Specificity of Civil Defense Personnel" arises from the desire to fully re-enter the so-called "specific" category of personnel and for Specificity, as required by art. 3 Public Labor Code means personnel with public law contracts operating in particular sectors of the State and therefore military personnel and other particular categories not caged in collective agreements that are of a private nature. This is our goal that puts us on a par with the military colleagues, while respecting the peculiarities of the tasks and roles of each.
The committee was created to "try to safeguard" the professionalism and dignity of the civilian personnel of the Ministry of Defense, from the official to the official, always underestimated and underpaid by the Administration and "mocked" by certain trade unions that with bold conviction, despite faced with a decline of members since they have only 1 / 3 members of all 27.000 employees all, they think they have fought and got the maximum possible for all of us - an elephant that gives birth to a mouse in short - meaning the crumbs, the l total flattening and total professional submission to military personnel as guests in their own homes.
The same unions from which we do not hear of the proposal made by the Administration of Defense in transit in "public regime" of Civilians, perhaps because this passage would have undermined the power of representation? This question was repeatedly asked in assemblies to the various national trade union representatives, some of whom own "specific" contract holders in their own administration.
But, in a document prepared in the 2016 by the Administration, on the subject we were forced to read that this proposal and possible solution "should be agreed with the Unions, most of which have strong doubts if not contrary".
Our committee is not connected to trade unions of any kind and, in complete autonomy and in very troubled waters, acts in the interest of the staff, 3600 spontaneous adhesions to clamor for an end to a situation of discrimination no longer bearable of the civil defense personnel who receive up to about 30% less than other civil servants and non-operational soldiers while carrying out the same work but above all deprived of prestige and professional dignity if we think about the legal treatment beyond the economic one.
Several initiatives have been taken on the issue: several amendments to the Defense Commission, an immediate answer to Minister Pinotti of 7 December 2017 also in consideration of the requests of two General Secretaries of Defense who had represented the "specificity" of the civil defense personnel ; the response received was elusive and unsatisfactory, did not touch the theme presented and led back to the agreement with the most representative unions.
This situation created with unsuccessful agreements between politics and trade unions is no longer sustainable even in the light of the recent events, the final blow of the administration of former minister Pinotti.
Since January 2018, as a result of the reorganization of the careers of military personnel, in the Defense there are over 10.000 exclusively military executives, even from the lower official staff even in the absence of tabular posts that naturally oversee civilian staff or professional officials and titleholders included in the elements of organization that otherwise, to aspire to management posts, must take courses in public competitions held by the National School of Administration.
We very much appreciated the words of Minister Trenta during the intervention in the Defense Committee of the Chamber and Senate on July 26 when he declared that he considered investment in Civil Defense personnel a priority, also speaking of the priority of training which today however has no value given that it is not considered a valid title in economic developments or the so-called career progressions where, thanks to agreements signed between management and trade unions, flattening wins over meritocracy 10 to 0, a meritocracy so exalted in public but so outraged in the facts.
We therefore ask ourselves: what is the sense of training staff, spending public money, and then not giving any career opportunities to civilian staff contrary to military personnel? Another big punch in the eye nonsense of having professionalism certified within the Administration (graduates and specialized) and assist in the entry into civilian roles of the Defense, of personnel unfit for military service that from the rank of First Marshal transits roles with professional profile of Officer even with only the title of study of Middle School, in full contrast with what established by the rules that establish access from outside to the officials or the possession of the degree.
What did the trade unions have to do with such injustice?
The staff who joined the Committee, the majority non-unionized but also a large share of employees in general continues to go on for only a great sense of belonging and great sense of the state despite the constant mortifications. We civil servants, like the military ones, are an integral part of the Ministry of Defense, we would like to have, as they do, a contract of public law.
We would like answers to these questions and we think it is essential to examine the problem seriously and research possible solutions so that "the staff is truly an integrated force formed by military and civilians who contribute to the mission and common vision of Defense as a family home where everyone is landlords in the respect of their peculiarities, roles, skills, equal opportunities and accrued rights, avoiding a situation of Apartheid that, at present, could be configured unless it is decided, for example, to pass us through the roles of the Council Presidency ……… why not!
We sincerely hope that Minister Trenta, unlike his predecessor, listens and evaluates our arguments and can schedule a meeting, already requested to his Cabinet since the Pinotti mandate, with the representatives of the Committee so far not obtained.
We thank you for the space you want to reserve and the considerations you may want to make regarding the problem represented and we greet you with cordiality
The President
of the Committee for the specific nature of Civil Defense Personnel
Dr. Filomena Crafa
(photo: Defense / web)
