From Ikea to Zara and Esselunga, a 240 euro increase for large-scale retail workers

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An increase of 240 euros is also coming for the 220 thousand workers in modern and organized distribution. After the contracts of Confcommercio, Confesercenti and Distribuzione cooperative were renewed, yesterday Federdistribuzione reached the agreement for the renewal of the national collective labor agreement with the trade unions, Filcams-Cgil, Fisascat-Cisl and Uiltucs-Uil. The agreement closes a long negotiation process and the circle of all trade contracts that had expired at the end of 2019.

The economic part

The agreement concerns the large modern and organized retail chains, from Ikea to Brico, Metro, Conforama, Carrefour, Esselunga, Vegé Acqua&sapone, Zara, Rinascente, Coin, Ovs, Kasanova, Kiko, Metro, Obi, Leroy Merlin, only for name a few from a long list. It will be valid until 31 March 2027 and provides for a fully operational contractual increase of 240 euros at the fourth level, to be reset. In addition to a one-off fee of 350 euros. This, according to the unions’ calculations, will lead to the disbursement of a wage bill of 7,180 euros, also including the one-off payment. Despite the tensions of recent weeks and the Easter Saturday strike, the companies had already decided to disburse the first tranche of 70 euros which is therefore retroactive: it starts from April 2024 and is added to the 30 euros agreed with the 2022 bridge agreement The increase in the annual allowance of the elastic part-time clause has also been envisaged, which goes from 120 euros per year to 155. To deal with the contractual vacancy phases in the trade sector, especially due to past crises and of the pandemic, have proven to be very long, this contract has taken action by introducing something new on the economic side. That is, the provision of an economic element equal to 30% of the IPCA net of the forecast imported energy, applied to the minimum contractual wages in the event of non-renewal of the contract following 6 months from expiry or presentation of the platform.

The normative part

The regulatory part of the agreement, which was a source of much friction between the parties, addressed numerous issues, without however reducing worker protections. The classification of personnel has been updated, but also the commitment to active and constant discussion to further enhance the distinctive roles and professionalism of the sector. Furthermore, among the other topics addressed are: the fight once morest gender violence, the gradual increase in the minimum working hours of part-time workers as a further response to “disadvantaged” work, the extension of employment opportunities for young people on weekends and the strengthening of work-life balance measures.

The economic sustainability of businesses and work in trade

The president of Federdistribuzione Carlo Alberto Buttarelli explains that the companies «have carried out discussions with the unions with great commitment and responsibility, always putting first the desire to combine respect for people and their rights with the economic sustainability of the companies. Today we have reached the agreement which provides economic answers to workers for the next few years, taking into account what has already been provided in recent months, and introduces new regulations to a sector which is constantly evolving and which requires specific solutions. The path we have started to give identity and specificity to the large retail companies operating in Italy is an unavoidable commitment for us. The Federation will continue to be the primary interpreter of the modern distribution sector in Italy, convinced that growth, the ability to generate investments, employment and value for the territory, by associated companies, coexist with a more modern, but not precarious, vision of work”. Federdistribuzione, concludes Buttarelli, «will continue this path, in a constructive discussion with the trade union parties, with the same passion, determination and, above all, with the same coherence, demonstrated by the companies that believed in the negotiation process up to today’s renewal». In a joint note, the unions, Filcams Cgil, Fisascat Cisl and UIltucs, add that «following the breakdown of the negotiations which had led to the joint strike on 30 March, Federdistribuzione returned to the table reviewing its positioning. The joint commitment of trade unions, male and female workers has opened a breach at the negotiation table, which has been stalled for too long following the signing of the bridge agreement signed in December 2022, and has allowed us to reach an agreement that improves the conditions of work and remuneration”. This agreement, the unions conclude, “finally closes the framework of renewals in the tertiary sector which was only missing the DMO contract which applies to the largest and most well-known distribution brands in Italy”.