Ferragosto: why GDO and traditional retail are being urged to strike

GDO strike on Ferragosto: next Saturday 15, in fact, trade unions have announced mobilisation in two regions, Tuscany and Calabria.

Why? Essentially, workers’ representatives intend to reaffirm the value of the holiday as a great opportunity to spend time together.

Moreover, as we should remember, it is an important celebration for the Catholic religion, which celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary.

As if that were not enough, the holiday is widely observed in France (L'Assomption), Spain (La Asunción), Portugal, Poland, Belgium, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus, Switzerland, Germany…

Tuscany: I Gigli shopping centre remains open

Filcams Cgil Tuscany explains that the holiday period has social value, but despite this, the I Gigli shopping centre in Campi Bisenzio will remain open, which, in the union’s view, is the wrong decision.

But this important commercial development, as we shall see, is not the only one and its economic reasons are quite understandable. The 15 August is a Saturday, the summer sales are on, and people have time, the food courts and restaurants are expected to be fully booked.

“Opening on public holidays – reads a Filcams statement – cannot become the norm. Ferragosto has a family and personal value that must be protected. It is time to spend with children, friends and loved ones, but also to rest and devote time to oneself.”

The organisation is also calling on citizens to support the mobilisation, by avoiding shopping during the holiday, since there is always time for shopping, whereas opportunities to spend time together are what they are.

Filcams Cgil Florence against Primark

The Ferragosto trade strike, in the case of I Gigli – the union continues – takes on even greater importance in light of what is happening at the Primark store, where some workers received disciplinary letters for having joined the strike on 2 June, which was also called by Filcams Cgil for the commercial sector.

“Filcams Cgil Florence firmly rejects these disciplinary allegations in defence of female and male workers and their sacred right to strike, and is ready to act not only on an individual level, but also collectively. On 15 August we are also striking for this reason: because public holidays must not become ordinary working days and because those exercising their right to strike must not face disciplinary consequences.”

Ferragosto: what will happen in Calabria

Let us turn to Calabria. Here, the mobilisation does not appear to be prompted by any genuine underlying dispute.

Called by Filcams Cgil, Fisascat Cisl and Uiltucs Uil Calabria, the protest concerns all work shifts and the entire day, in order to reaffirm, as in Tuscany, the family, cultural and traditional value of the celebration.

For this reason, apart from essential openings, such as pharmacies, all other shops, whether traditional or part of the GDO, should remain closed.

“This is not merely a trade-union demand,” declared Giuseppe Valentino of Filcams Cgil Calabria, Salvo Carofratello of Fisascat Cisl Calabria and Saverio Scarpino, of Uiltucs Uil Calabria — but a choice of civility and balance between time for living and time for working. Trade workers guarantee professionalism, commitment and availability every day. Ferragosto should also be an opportunity for them to rest, share time with their families and participate in the social life of their communities.”

The trade unions in this region have also issued an appeal to employers and their respective organisations to support the initiative voluntarily, both now and in the future.

Aduc: the Ferragosto strike is merely a ritual

There have not been many reactions so far, but Aduc has made its position known, Aduc, Association for the Rights of Users and Consumers: “This strike,” the source says, is a ritual which, detached from the economic context, represents a form of social life that we do not understand. Because, for our social life to function, we need an economic system that always works: energy services, telecommunications, transport, doctors, consumption, security, leisure time, etc. And those who manage these services are human beings who take turns and work at the times and in the ways established by their contracts.”

Meanwhile, some brands have announced extraordinary openings, openings which do not necessarily concern the two areas at the centre of the protest.

Open stores and possible opening hours: does the confusion help?

Conad, for example, states: “To meet your summer needs, many of our stores in Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Veneto, Lazio, Campania, Sardinia and several other regions of Italy will remain open with dedicated opening hours. Whether you are spending the holiday in the city or staying at a holiday destination for the summer break, finding an open Conad store near you is very easy. You simply need to consult the list provided at our link or use our store locator to plan your shopping in complete comfort, avoiding last-minute rushes.”

Esselunga should also remain open, with limited opening hours and for part of its network. The same applies to Bennet , which invites customers to consult the opening map to avoid disappointment.Il Gigante

, for its part,Il Gigante centres open also on Ferragosto, both to benefit from shopping and from the summer sales. Many local and national newspapers have compiled genuine lists by contacting businesses or drawing on their websites: these are comprehensive lists, but they always conclude with a warning to check before setting off.

This content was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.