The protest started from the corps de ballet, which criticized the excessive number of shows and the constant variations in the billboard. Then it extended to all the workers of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, who on May 1st proclaimed a state of agitation. It was also confirmed after the meeting which took place today between the secretariats of Cgil, Cisl, Uil and Fials with the RSA and the superintendent of the theater, Dominique Meyer and defined positive by the unions.
Meyer illustrated the balance sheet (which is confirmed as positive) to the workers’ representatives, and the agreement on the production bonus was also closed: the leaders of La Scala had decided to assign it to workers, although the expected objectives were not achieved in 2021 from the union agreement, however the auditors blocked the operation and therefore it was necessary to discuss a new agreement.
The most urgent issues regarding the dance troupe have also been resolved, namely the request for some additional dancers for the representation of «Sylvia», a show that will debut on 11 May, after eight cases of Covid among the artists. In addition, the dancers, who during the whole pandemic had to do continuous swabs as required by the safety protocol, were granted a few days of recovery as compensation for the tests.
However, some important issues remain open, which will be addressed in the next meetings. Starting with the programming for next season, which was not presented to the workers except verbally, in addition to the question of competitions and new hires. The trade unions ask to bring trade union relations back to a level of continuity and constancy of confrontation, as in the tradition of the theater.
The main game is in fact still to be played and concerns the renewal of the contract, which expired last year, which the unions had agreed to postpone given the emergency of the pandemic, but which they now consider a priority that can no longer be postponed.