Navigating Negotiations: Anief’s Stance on Education Contract Renewals

Amidst ongoing debates in both Italian Parliament and European institutions, the Anief trade union is vigorously pursuing the renewal of the Collective National Labor Agreement (CCNL) for the education and research sector. As the Representative trade Union (RSU) elections approach on April 14-16, Anief’s National President, Marcello Pacifico, sheds light on the union’s objectives and challenges.

Bridging the Wage Gap: Securing Resources for Educators

The core of Anief’s negotiation strategy revolves around securing adequate financial resources for education staff. Pacifico notes that while the government has allocated funds in recent budget laws to increase salaries over the next three contract cycles, aiming for improvements by 2030 to offset inflation stemming from the war in Ukraine, the proposed average increase of 150 euros every three years falls short. Anief is advocating for discussions with relevant ministers to unlock existing resources and identify new funding streams to address the disparity between education staff and those in central government functions.

Today we earn 6 thousand euros per year less and the gap is widening with the new decree 25/2025 where we asked for various changes.
Marcello Pacifico, National president of Anief

Currently, education sector employees earn approximately 6,000 euros less annually compared to their counterparts in central functions. This disparity is further exacerbated by recent decrees, prompting Anief to push for significant revisions.

Anief’s Proposals: A blueprint for Betterment

Anief has outlined specific proposals for the allocation of additional resources, focusing on enhancing the working conditions and financial well-being of education staff.These proposals include:

• Financing meal vouchers for all school staff, aligning with practices in other public administration sectors.
• Restoring the initial salary step (3-8 years of seniority) for newly appointed educators.
• Guaranteeing fair and obvious inter-departmental mobility.
• Enhancing the roles of key personnel,such as school manager collaborators and high-qualification staff (formerly DSGA).
• Increasing salaries for teaching, educational, and administrative (ATA) staff.

These proposals have been formally submitted as amendments and are currently under review by parliamentary commissions. Anief hopes these amendments will be incorporated into law, paving the way for their inclusion in the upcoming contract.

Active Engagement: Anief’s Dialog with Parliament and European Institutions

Anief maintains a proactive dialogue with both Italian parliament and European institutions, consistently providing detailed analyses of regulatory proposals affecting school staff. The union is frequently invited to parliamentary hearings and actively engages with European bodies to advocate for the rights and interests of educators.

For exmaple, Anief has pushed for amendments to recent decrees concerning public administration, seeking to secure the positions of staff hired on temporary contracts for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the South Agenda. They have also advocated for the integration of qualified candidates from competitions held as 2020 into existing rankings.

While acknowledging that the fight against precarious employment is ongoing, Anief aims to reinstate a dual recruitment channel to prevent the misuse of fixed-term contracts. They also advocate for compensation ranging from 4 to 24 months in cases of contract abuse, subject to judicial review, and the full recognition of pre-employment service in career progression.

Legal Recourse: Championing Rights through the Courts

Alongside negotiations and advocacy, Anief actively pursues legal action to challenge unfair legislative and contractual provisions. Pacifico explains that the union resorts to the courts when dialogue fails to achieve desired outcomes, emphasizing their commitment to upholding constitutional and European standards.

We win as we study and this is the reason for which we are listened to by the legislator and by the Administration,but our strength are the delegations of the members and the vote to the RSU.
Marcello Pacifico,National President of Anief

Anief’s success in legal battles stems from its thorough understanding of regulations and its unwavering pursuit of justice. Recent victories include securing 25 million euros in compensation for thousands of educators affected by precarious employment and discriminatory treatment. The union also has a pending case before the European Court of Justice concerning the recognition of service in parity schools, following a successful appeal regarding teacher cards. Furthermore, Anief has won appeals in the Constitutional Court against differentiated autonomy and in the Court of Cassation concerning the recognition of initial salary steps for new hires with pre-2011 service.

RSU Elections: A Call to Action

As the RSU elections approach (April 14-16), Pacifico urges members to vote for Anief candidates, emphasizing the importance of collective action in achieving fair and equitable outcomes for all education staff. The union’s strength lies in its members’ participation and their commitment to advocating for a better future for the education sector.

Strengthening Portrayal: The Importance of RSU Elections

The upcoming RSU (Representative Trade Union) elections are crucial, not only for renewing the union’s mandate but also for affirming the work it has undertaken. A strong voter turnout demonstrates the union’s representativeness and bolsters its negotiating power at the bargaining table. Anief, a prominent union representing both public and private sector employees, emphasizes the importance of these elections for advocating for educators’ rights and improving their working conditions.

Anief reports a substantial increase in membership, boasting a 30% growth in proxies between 2021 and 2024. This surge reflects a growing interest in the union’s policies and its commitment to informing workers about their rights. Recent union assemblies have drawn over 100,000 participants, signaling a strong engagement with Anief’s advocacy efforts.

Addressing Unpaid Entitlements: A Campaign for Justice

Anief has launched a campaign to address the widespread issue of denied rights among educators. this initiative focuses on recovering unpaid entitlements, including:

• Non-recognition of accessory salary (RPD – Professional Recurrence Teachers, CIA – ATA individual contribution) during short-term substitute positions.
• Unpaid holiday compensation, even during contracts extending to June 30th.
• Compensation for contract abuse.
• Issues related to seniority and teacher qualifications.
• Complete career reconstruction for pre-service teachers.
• First salary grade discrepancies for newly hired educators.
• Contractual holiday allowance discrepancies.

These issues highlight the systemic challenges faced by educators in receiving fair compensation for their work.

The Inflationary Gap: Demanding Fair Contractual Increases

While the government has allocated a monthly advance for contractual increases for the 2022-2024 period, Anief argues that this is insufficient. The union contends that the advance does not adequately reflect the actual inflation rate,which has significantly eroded the purchasing power of educators’ salaries.

According to Anief, current regulations mandate an advance payment equal to 50% of the projected inflation rate, to be updated upon contract signing. With inflation rising by 16 points during the three-year period, the union asserts that an 8% increase is necessary, far exceeding the current 3.85% (approximately 90 euros) advance. Anief has urged its members to formally notify the relevant ministry of this discrepancy.

The law requires, to protect the remuneration of public employees, the payment of an advance equal to 50% of the future programmed inflation and then updated, in the meantime sign the contract. in the three -year period, inflation rose by 16 points, we should have 8% of increase compliance with the current 3.85% (90 euros) as an advance.

Balancing Rights and resources: Addressing Concerns About Financial Sustainability

In response to concerns that Anief’s proposals, such as early retirement options and free degree redemption, could strain the state budget, the union emphasizes the importance of upholding workers’ rights. Anief cites the 2014 Mascolo judgment, supported by Anief lawyers, which affirmed that budgetary constraints cannot justify the suppression of workers’ rights.

Anief advocates for recognizing the professionalism and addressing the burnout experienced by educators. Recent initiatives, such as Minister Valditara’s provision for health insurance as a welfare measure (offering 2,000 euros in annual reimbursements), and Senator Bucalo’s bill on subsidized degree redemption (900 euros per year), signal a potential shift towards greater support for educators’ well-being. Additionally, Mr. Amato has proposed an amendment to abolish the INPS deduction for Primary and Childhood Teacher staff.

The budget cannot be an possibility to repress the rights of those who work…We must recover dignity, respect and honour and is obtained by recognizing on the one hand the professionalism on the other the burnout of those who work at school.

Looking Ahead: the Power of Collective Action

Anief believes that increased representation in the upcoming RSU elections will empower the union to achieve further concrete results for educators. By voting for Anief candidates in the 70% of workplaces where they are represented, educators can strengthen the union’s voice and advocate for improved working conditions, fair compensation, and greater recognition of their vital role in society. The union’s focus remains on securing tangible improvements in the lives of educators through collective bargaining and advocacy.