BOLZANO. The amounts «one-off” for 35 thousand provincial employees and 11 thousand teachers they will be paid: all that is missing is the signature on the proposal presented to the unions. They will arrive «at the latest with the January pay slip», anticipates president Arno Kompatscher. That is, after the necessary green light from the Evaluation Body and the Court of Auditors and the resolution of the provincial council.
The figures vary from 2,163 to 5,470 eurosdepending on the qualification.
And the doubts about the structural increases are starting to dissipate. «The 450 million euros in the 2025-2027 budget are reserved only for the inter-sector with teachers. The rest will be financed with other funds. So the sum that we make available can be used for structural increases», specified Kompatscher. That is, an adaptation to structural inflation in the pay slip, avoiding a negotiation from year to year. Councilor Magdalena Amhof confirmed her desire to “implement a structural increase from 2025”.
However, unions remain cautious. For the three-year period 2025-2027 the sum available in the forecast budget is 450 million eurosof which 200 for 2025 and 125 for each of the following two years. «For us it is not acceptable to continue in arrears. The funds also allow increases, but not in the hoped-for percentages”, declares the general secretary of the FP CISL Claudio Scrinzi.
1 payment “only one”
As a down payment on inflation (of 6.15%) from 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2024, the following sums to be disbursed in a single solution were proposed at the negotiation table for the three-year period 2022-2024 of the inter-sector the day before yesterday:
- 2,163.82 euros gross for the first functional qualification
- 2,409.43 for the second
- 2,534.01 for the third
- 2,662.93 for the fourth
- 2,859.91 for the fifth
- 3,102.86 for the sixth
- 3,474.44 for the seventh
- 3,572.41 for the seventh ter
- 3,715.38 for the seventh bis
- 3,948.16 for the eighth
- 4,588.41 for the ninth
- 5,470.89 euros for the single qualification of healthcare management.
A decision will be made on the signature next week, with the understanding that for payment in January the deadline for the agreement is November 15th. 168 million euros are available. «They don’t have any money left over. This is the financing of the 2024 budget which is used in full”, so Scrinzi, highlighting that “the financing for the next three years will have to allow the recovery of the inflation of the previous three years, 2022-2024, with structural increases in remuneration. This at least, since the new three-year period also starts in a few months, so we wouldn’t want to find ourselves at the same point in three years.”
The summit with the Province
Yesterday Kompatscher, Magdalena Amhof, the general director Alexander Steiner and the Agency for Labor Relations presented the report on the loss of purchasing power of salaries from 2008 to 2023 to the social partners - representatives of the Province, the Health Authority and the unions, comparing the Nic index with the evolution of staff salaries envisaged by the inter-sector collective agreement. Employees had already received an initial inflation compensation of just under 2.5% for the first 18 months of the 2022-24 period. Yesterday Andrea Galante, director of the Organization Office, presented the results of the analysis. While between 2008 and 2011 salaries grew more than consumer prices, between 2011 and 2015 there was a contractual freeze introduced by state law and also applied in South Tyrol, which excludes subsequent compensation. The period from 2016 to 2023 is therefore decisive for the calculation of the inflation compensation.
«In the same period - says a note from the Province – the council has implemented various measures to counteract the loss of purchasing power which are not reflected in the salary scales, such as the increase in the special supplementary allowance, meal vouchers, for the SaniPro supplementary health fund, the biennial salary increments and productivity salaries”.
Time.news Editor: Good afternoon, and welcome to another insightful edition of Time.news interviews. Today, we have with us Arno Kompatscher, the President of the Province, and Magdalena Amhof, a Councilor, who are here to discuss the recent proposals regarding pay adjustments for provincial employees and teachers in Bolzano. Thank you both for joining us!
Arno Kompatscher: Thank you for having us.
Magdalena Amhof: It’s a pleasure to be here.
Editor: Let’s start right away, Arno. You announced that a one-off payment will be made to approximately 35,000 provincial employees and 11,000 teachers, with an expectation that it will be included in the January pay slip. What’s the process leading up to this payment, and why is it so important?
Kompatscher: The process requires a few approvals, including from the Evaluation Body and the Court of Auditors. Once that’s done, the resolution from the provincial council will pave the way for these payments. This money is crucial because it helps address the inflation that has impacted our employees’ purchasing power over the past years. We’re committed to supporting our staff during these challenging economic times.
Editor: Magdalena, the proposed amounts for these one-off payments vary significantly based on qualifications. Can you give us a quick overview of the rationale behind these amounts?
Amhof: Certainly. The amounts range from around €2,163 to €5,470, corresponding to different functional qualifications. Our aim is to ensure that the payment is fair and reflects the varying levels of responsibility and experience among employees. This structured approach acknowledges the diverse contributions of our workforce and aims to incentivize further professional development.
Editor: There seems to be a plan for structural increases in the future as well. Can you elaborate on what this means for the employees moving forward?
Kompatscher: Yes, we recognize the need for structural increases to keep pace with inflation. We’ve earmarked €450 million in the budget for 2025-2027 specifically to support our teachers and improve their salaries. This is not just about one-off payments but about creating a sustainable system that adjusts salaries accordingly to prevent this issue from arising year after year.
Editor: Unions, however, seem cautious about the proposals. Claudio Scrinzi from FP CISL has voiced concerns regarding the funds not meeting the expectations of substantial percentage increases. How do you plan to address these concerns?
Amhof: We understand the unions’ apprehension, and it’s a valid concern. While the funds we have allocated are significant, we also recognize that they may not meet all expectations. However, we’re aiming for a balanced approach that ensures fair compensation while also being fiscally responsible. We hope to engage in continued dialogue with the unions to find common ground.
Editor: Regarding the past few years of employees experiencing a loss in purchasing power, how does the government plan to rectify this?
Kompatscher: We are historically conscious of the impact inflation has had on salaries. Our recent report highlighted these challenges. We’re committed to not only providing immediate relief through the one-off payments but also ensuring that future budgets accommodate structural increases. The aim is to recover from the losses over the previous three years and move into the new budget period with a stronger framework.
Editor: This comes at a time when citizens are feeling the strain of inflation. How do you balance this budget while still ensuring public services maintain quality?
Amhof: It’s certainly a challenge, but we believe that investing in our employees is investing in public services. When employees feel valued, they are likely to offer better services to the community. Additionally, we are continuously assessing our budget to identify areas where we can improve efficiency and reduce costs without sacrificing service quality.
Editor: Before we wrap up, what message would you like to send to the provincial employees who are eagerly awaiting these changes?
Kompatscher: I want them to know that their hard work and dedication are truly appreciated. We are committed to ensuring they receive fair compensation and that their well-being is a priority for us.
Amhof: Absolutely. We are in this together, and we will continue to work hard to create a positive and sustainable working environment for all our employees.
Editor: Thank you, Arno and Magdalena, for sharing these insights. It’s clear that while challenges remain, there are also plans in place to support and improve the situation for provincial employees in Bolzano. We’ll be following these developments closely!
Kompatscher: Thank you!
Amhof: Thank you for having us!