Sileoni: «Dalle banche serve una proposta concreta sugli stipendi dei lavoratori»

Lando Maria Sileoni, the General Secretary of Fabi, has called for concrete proposals from banks regarding workers' salaries. This sentiment is echoed by the secretary general in the ongoing dialogue with Abi, which has not yielded the desired results. The negotiations over the renewal of contracts have been moving too slowly, with large bank transactions absorbing attention and weighing on the talks. However, workers cannot wait for the future of the banks while in a holding pattern.

Sileoni proposes a clear mandate from Abi's Casl (Committee for Labor and Industrial Affairs) and a concrete proposal on salaries as a way to break the stalemate. The request for a 518 euro average monthly wage for the next three years, to recover inflation and recognize productivity, is not too high nor burdensome for the banks.

In 2022-2025, bank profits grew by 72%, while labor costs only increased by 7%. Each bank worker generates, on average, €430,000 in revenue per year, while the average labor cost is €77,000. This means that each bank worker creates value more than 5.5 times their cost to the bank. The data show that the request is sustainable: those who have produced these results must benefit from them.

The government's approach to the budget, asking for resources from banks, concerns Sileoni. The government and banks must discuss and find a solution, without using the budget debate as an excuse to delay wage increases.

The contract has been in force for seven months, and the recovery of purchasing power lost during this time must be addressed. The renewal will take effect from April 1, 2026. This means that while prices continue to rise, the time lost in negotiations cannot become lost money for workers. The regulatory part will have a greater weight in this negotiation, alongside salaries.

Reduction in working hours, commercial pressures, safety, and professionalism relate to the quality of life of workers. The national contract must guarantee common rights, even when banks change ownership and organization. The impact of artificial intelligence on banking employment depends on how trade unions manage industrial plans in 2027 and 2028, both in the results of the extraordinary operations and in updating the groups' plans, which have not yet been affected by extraordinary operations.

The future of employment in banking depends on the choices made nationally and by individual companies, which will be the main topic of discussion at the Fabi National Congress from January 18-22 in Rome.