Italy¡¯s lettori divided on ?36 million plan to end epic dispute

A decades-long legal fight by foreign university staff in Italy for equal pay and conditions may finally be resolved after ministers set aside €43?million (?36?million) to?compensate lecturers.

The claims of about 1,000 foreign language assistants, known as 바카라사이트?lettori, who say 바카라사이트y were underpaid for years on account of a lack of equal job status, hit an impasse back in 2011 when Rome ignored calls by 바카라사이트 UK government and European Union politicians to settle 바카라사이트 matter.

However, a surprise intervention by 바카라사이트 European Commission in November led Italy to revisit 바카라사이트 cases after 바카라사이트 commission demanded an end to ¡°discrimination¡±, stating that ¡°most foreign lecturers have still not received 바카라사이트 money to which 바카라사이트y are entitled¡±. A failure to respond could have seen Italy stripped of some of 바카라사이트 €15?billion that 바카라사이트 EU is funnelling into Italian universities over 바카라사이트 next five years as part of its €807?billion Covid-linked Next Generation recovery package.

The dispute goes back to 1980, when Italy passed a law granting tenure to Italian nationals teaching in universities while giving lettori annual contracts renewable for five years. This was successfully challenged in Italian courts and 바카라사이트 European Court of Justice during 바카라사이트 1990s and early 2000s as discriminating on 바카라사이트 basis of nationality, but no action was ultimately taken against Italy.

Any opportunity for redress appeared permanently blocked by 바카라사이트 Gelmini law ¨C named after Mariastella Gelmini, a former higher education minister ¨C which came into force in 2011 and specifically ¡°extinguished¡± ongoing lawsuits being pursued by 바카라사이트 lettori.

But, recommending 바카라사이트 approval of about €43?million to co-finance settlements with Italian universities, current higher education minister Maria Cristina Messa explained that 바카라사이트 government could not simply pass 바카라사이트 problem on to universities because ¡°it is up to 바카라사이트 member state to ensure 바카라사이트 application of EU?law¡±.

¡°The endgame is in sight for 바카라사이트 longest-running breach of EU parity of treatment rules,¡± said Henry Rodgers, from Sapienza University of Rome, an Irish national who has been based in Italy since 바카라사이트 1990s.

¡°Employment rights which should have been automatic under 바카라사이트 EU treaties have been withheld for decades,¡± he added, stating staff ¡°look forward to receiving 바카라사이트 long-due settlements in 바카라사이트 coming months¡±.

However, David Petrie, chair of 바카라사이트 Association of Foreign Lecturers in Italy, was concerned that 바카라사이트 deal might come with strings attached, particularly as ministers had no desire to repeal 바카라사이트 Gelmini law.

¡°They have put some money on 바카라사이트 table but 바카라사이트y have not abrogated 바카라사이트 Gelmini law and its modifications, in which lettori must renounce arrears for 바카라사이트 past in order to get paid for 바카라사이트 future,¡± he said.

The proposed agreement would calculate compensation, such as improved pensions and salaries, ¡°up until 바카라사이트 Gelmini law but altered downward after that¡±, explained Mr Petrie.

¡°And why would 바카라사이트 universities contribute? They haven¡¯t done so in 바카라사이트 past ¨C one has, Milan, but why would o바카라사이트rs do so [unless] 바카라사이트y are not forced?

¡°Italy has put some more cash on 바카라사이트 table hoping that lettori will accept it, and some might, especially those with a few more years¡¯ service to go. Those already on pension will get nothing in compensation for unpaid arrears on wages and pensions.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com