Agreement’s dismissal upsets Aviano union leaders

Agreement’s dismissal upsets Aviano union leaders
By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Tuesday, November 20, 2007

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy — Local labor union officials say they might be forced to take action if the Air Force doesn’t reverse a recent decision affecting a handful of Italian workers at the base.

The issue started with a reorganization in the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron, when three of five Italians who perform the same job with the unit were promoted.

The unions argued that all five should have been eligible for the promotion, which carried a monthly pay increase of more than 450 euros.

The base agreed to let all five try for the promotion and two reportedly failed English-proficiency tests.

Although most Italian workers on U.S. bases speak at least some English, that ability isn’t included in any of their contracts, union leaders said.

But that’s not the union officials’ chief concern, says Eugenio Sabelli, who represents the Italian Confederation of Trades’ Unions (CISL), one of two labor unions that represent Italian workers on U.S. military bases in Italy.


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