2021 was a record year for many economic sectors, including construction. Filippo Rubolotta, general secretary of the Fillea CGIL of Biella (the building category) analyzes the official data provided by the Provincial Construction Fund. In 2021 compared to 2020 (the “construction year” begins on October 1st and ends on September 30th, ed.) The number of active construction companies increased from 218 to 271 (+53), that of active workers from 1483 to 1568 (+85) and hours worked increased by 276,723 units. “These are just some of the data that show us how even at the provincial level the construction sector is experiencing a phase of important recovery after the dark years following the great crisis of 2008,” says Rubolotta.
At the beginning of March, the new national contract was signed by Ance and by the Cooperatives with the trade unions Fillea Cgil, Filca Cisl, Feneal Uil which will produce monthly increases for workers as early as this March. Increases that when fully operational will start from a total of 92 euros for the common worker up to 184 euros for the employee at the seventh level. The new contract, for which the judgment is very positive, also intervenes on issues of extreme importance for the construction sector such as the establishment through the training and bilateralism of procedures useful for strengthening health and safety, the fight against under-grading and to the incorrect application of the contract, the bonus for young people under 29 who enter the sector: after 12 months in the same company, a one-off fee of 100 euros will be set off for them.
Filippo Rubulotta underlines how these benefits provided for by the national bargaining will be added to the improved conditions already applied at Biella level by the provincial construction collective agreement signed by the Ance Biella Builders’ Board and by the trade unions on 5 July 2021. “Also in the first months of 2022 it is continued the growth trend – says Rubolotta -, it is not known how it will go in the coming months given the uncertainty due to the war and the problems of the increase in the prices of materials and their procurement. Known and shared difficulties, therefore the signed contract includes a joint appeal by trade union and employer parties to ask the government to give answers ».