The assembly of the FP CGIL Lombardia with public health researchers highlighted critical issues despite thehe struggle over stabilizations which, in fact, represented only the beginning of a path towards the affirmation of rights. The absence of regional resources for the RAR, the difficulty even just starting to negotiate with the organization, the qualified staff still treated as precarious. Secretary Tramparulo: “Let’s mobilize and participate in the general strike on November 29th”
21 nov. 2024 – The assembly that the FP Cgil Lombardia organized with the researchers who work in the IRCCS (Scientific hospitalization and treatment institutions) and at the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute highlighted a reality that continues to be disconcerting: health research in Lombardy is treated as an “unwanted guest” in the regional health systemas he said Antonio Bagnaschi of the FP Cgil Milankeeping track of the work. In particular, it is the Lombardy Region itself that appears deaf to the requests of health research personnel, ignoring their skills and their fundamental role.
To face the different issues at the meeting on Wednesday 20 November (held at the Cancer Institute of Milan and remotely) – including the stabilizationsthe supplementary bargaining for the research sectionthe Rarthe trainingil role of the doctoratelo general strike by CGIL and UIL on 29 November next – were Francesca Colciaghi, Rsu Fp Cgil delegate of the Besta Institute, the national coordinator Alberto Evangelista, and the regional secretary Lello Tramparulo, in addition to the same Bagnaschi.
As explained by Colciaghito date they have been 1269 people stabilized nationwidewith an estimated spending commitment of approximately 53-54 million euros. It is estimated that 400 people have still entitled to stabilizationwith a further spending commitment of 15-17 million euros.
Law 87/2023, article 3 ter, provides a limit of 74 million euros for stabilizations for those who meet the requirements (another issue that emerged is how to protect those who do not have them). However, The Lombardy Region has not yet allocated funds for this purpose, it is late compared to other Italian realities.
Of the 700 positions planned for Lombardy institutions, only 417 have been stabilized. “Lombardy is the last”, considers Evangelista, posing a rhetorical question: “Which company can afford to lose 30% of its most qualified workforce without going bankrupt?”.
Yet, this is precisely what is happening in Lombardy, with one researcher in three still in precarious employment, and it is paradoxical given that ours is the region with the largest number of IRCCS in Italy. Furthermore, the lack of stabilization of a significant part of researchers, with years of experience, research doctorates and scientific publications, risks impoverishing these structures.
Evangelista points the finger towards the Lombardy Regionaccusing it of a lack of foresight and interest in the future of health research. But he insists on calling for joint intervention by the Ministry and the Region to guarantee the stabilization of all those entitled to it by 2025.
Another aspect addressed is that of Rar, additional regional resources which, in Lombardy, are not recognized to research personnel. The FP Cgil has already promoted a signature collection to ask the Region to adequately finance these workers as well, recognizing their contribution to the IRCCS mission.
Who Colciaghi speaks of a “political question”so it must be forcefully said to the Region “We exist”, we must invest in research. But there is also a “technical question”linked to the specialist services that the IRCCS, with their laboratories, provide. Valuable services that are not recognized on an economic level, depriving researchers of an important part of their salary.
In Lombardy, the application of the national public health contract for research is difficult and full of obstacles. Those who administer the IRCCS struggle to recognize the rights of these personnel, still treating them as precarious despite the stabilizations.
Bagnaschi was the first to raise the issue of the equalization elementa contractual institution that guarantees workers in the public health sector a salary supplement to compensate for any salary differences compared to other sectors. The equalization element is not paid to researchers of the Lombardy IRCCS due to a restrictive interpretation of the national contract by the Lombardy Region. “This forced us to go to lawyers”, highlighted the trade unionist, also insisting on the need to unite the tables of health research and the sector.
The failure to provide the equalization element in fact aggravates the disparity in treatment between research personnel and health sector personnel, contributing to creating a climate of frustration and uncertainty.
But, as the motto recalls, if Athens cries, Sparta does not laugh. AND in fact, it is up to the secretary of the FP Cgil Lombardia, Lello Tramparulo, to point out, in the conclusions, that the negotiations to renew the national public health contract have become “heavy” and that the Fp Cgil he has already declared that, without economic increases that take inflation into account, there are no conditions for signing.
Furthermore, the budget law has a multi-year validity and the Meloni government has already decided the resources to be allocated for the renewal of the next few years. The government has already planned to reduce the salaries of public employees.”
From here the importance of mobilization. The first appeal is to participate in the general strike of CGIL and UIL on 29 November. “The strike is the only tool we have,” Tramparulo underlines. The strike on the 29th is an opportunity to make your voice heard and demand a regional discussion table. And here the second appeal, to continue to mobilize also towards a Region that “is not interested” in healthcare researchers and continues in the privatistic drift of the healthcare system. “They won’t give us a decent contract if we don’t mobilize. You will never have a table with the Lombardy Region if we don’t mobilize.”
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* Beyond immediate concerns about funding and stability, how can researchers and advocates collaborate with policymakers to develop a long-term vision for healthcare research in Lombardy that aligns with the region’s healthcare needs and scientific advancements?
## Open-Ended Discussion Questions Based on the Article
This article highlights several crucial issues facing healthcare research in Lombardy. Here are some open-ended questions categorized by theme to encourage discussion and diverse perspectives:
**I. Stabilization of Researchers:**
* How can the lack of stabilization funding from the Lombardy Region be addressed, considering the region’s “last place” position in stabilizing researchers compared to other Italian regions?
* What are the potential consequences of losing 30% of qualified research personnel in Lombardy due to the lack of stability? How might this impact the region’s healthcare research capacity?
* How can we balance the need for fiscal responsibility with the importance of investing in healthcare research and securing the future of qualified personnel?
* What role should the national government play in ensuring researcher stability, particularly in light of differing approaches across regions?
**II. RAR (Additional Regional Resources) and Equalization Element:**
* Why are RAR not recognized for research personnel in Lombardy, and what are the implications of this decision for researchers’ remuneration and working conditions?
* How does the lack of the equalization element contribute to the disparity in treatment between research personnel and healthcare sector personnel?
* What strategies can be employed to ensure fair compensation for research personnel, taking into account the specialized nature of their work and skills?
* How can unions continue to advocate for the recognition and implementation of RAR and the equalization element for research personnel in Lombardy?
**III. General Strike & Mobilization:**
* What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of participating in the general strike on November 29th, particularly for research personnel?
* What actions can researchers and their allies take beyond the strike to pressure the Lombardy Region into addressing their concerns about stabilizations, RAR, and fair compensation?
* How can we build a more powerful and sustained mobilization strategy to ensure the long-term sustainability and improvement of healthcare research in Lombardy?
**IV. The Role of the Lombardy Region:**
* This article portrays the Lombardy Region as lacking interest in healthcare research and going down a “privatistic drift” in the healthcare system.
What evidence supports this claim, and what are the potential consequences of this trend for healthcare research and patient care in Lombardy?
* How can researchers and their supporters engage with the Lombardy Region in a constructive manner to advocate for their needs and interests?
* What role should citizens play in holding the Lombardy Region accountable for its policies and initiatives related to healthcare research?
These questions aim to spark a nuanced conversation about the complex challenges facing healthcare research in Lombardy, encouraging participants to consider different perspectives, explore potential solutions, and promote constructive action.
