Italian union: Our members are forced to pay to work

The Italian trade union USB, which, among other things, organizes the dock workers who have held large demonstrations, is harshly critical of the new Italian pandemic rules.

The rules require that employees in all industries must present a so-called "green pass", a kind of covid certificate, or have a negative covid test that is not older than 48 hours to be allowed to work.

Testing has previously been free but now costs around 15 euros.

This means that unvaccinated people have to pay to get a job, says Francesco Staccioli, chairman of syndicalist USB.

- In Italy, it is voluntary to get vaccinated, but the rules mean that those who do not want to get vaccinated have to pay to get tested.

For these people, it will cost money to go to work, he says to the Foreign Office.

Hard-hit economy

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Italy has had three major shutdowns of society, something that Francesco Staccioli believes may have contributed to the new rules. 

- The Italian economy and companies were hit extremely hard by the pandemic.

Now companies no longer need to take responsibility for an infectious workplace.

The responsibility has been transferred to the individual employee.

Fascists take over the protests

During the autumn, the rule change led to loud demonstrations, where tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest the decision.

Francesco Staccioli says the protests have been exploited by the anti-vaccine movement.

The union itself is for the vaccination, but against the green pass compulsion.

- The protests that began with the port workers in Trieste have been almost completely taken over by the anti-vaccine movement.

Same with the protests in Rome infiltrated by fascists.

These are movements we do not want to be associated with and protests that have become violent, which is unacceptable. 

Click on the clip to hear Francesco Staccioli about Italy's new rules and see more about Italy's fight against the virus in tonight's Foreign Office: The vaccine dictatorship on SVT Play from 7.30 pm and on SVT2 at 9.45 pm.