In Sicily, cultural sites closed on holidays: without compensation for workers

Museums run by the Sicilian Region will be closed on holidays: in fact, an agreement to open on holidays between the Region and unions has failed (the black smoke came yesterday after a meeting at the Sicilian Region’s Department of Cultural Heritage). Doors barred on Sundays, therefore, at such important sites as the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the archaeological area of Segesta, the Regional Gallery of Palazzo Abatellis in Palermo, the Regional Museum of Ceramics in Caltagirone, the Regional Gallery of Palazzo Bellomo in Syracuse, the Greek Theater in Taormina and many others.

The problem concerns the payment of overtime. Workers’ holiday shifts are in fact almost over during the so-called lockdown, and negotiations to provide for new overtime (as an exception to the limit of one-third of holidays during which regional museum employees can work) has not gone through because the 2019 benefit payments are still at a standstill. That is about 700 workers waiting to receive emoluments that, on average, range between 3,000 and 4,000 euros. “Payments of the 2019 allowances, due entitlements for the sacrifices made, are still at a standstill,” said Peppino Salerno and Pippo Di Paola of the Sadirs union, “and workers cannot be continually asked to make an effort without any pay.”

“Not only did these workers guarantee the opening of museums on Sundays and holidays last year without receiving a euro of additional compensation,” Salerno and Di Paola said, “but they are also accused of being slackers. This is the result of a failed policy of the department and the government despite the willingness and goodwill of the staff, who have always worked conscientiously and in the interest of public administration. Evidently this has not been understood.”

The two trade unionists are evidently referring to statements by the president of Sicily, Nello Musumeci, who over the weekend had lashed out at regional employees whom he called “unproductive”: “80 percent of them,” he said as part of a public outing, “scratch their bellies from morning to night. But don’t tell that to the unions. Now they still want to stay at home to do agile work. But if you don’t work in the office, how do you expect to be supervised at home?” Words that also led to announcements of lawsuits by some labor unions (Sadirs even called for the commissioning of the region).

Thus, it seems that precisely on cultural heritage the first battle between Musumeci and the employees of his administration is being played out. And the unions refuse to sign an agreement with the region until there is certainty about payments. These days, the administration will urge the Civil Service accounting department to pay the allowances, after which a new meeting is scheduled for next week (the Civil Service’s response is expected on Monday).

In Sicily, cultural sites closed on holidays: without compensation for workers

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