by Guisela Chiarella
Thousands of people gathered across the Friuli Venezia Giulia region on Thursday to mark International Workers’ Day, with Italy’s three main trade unions—CGIL, CISL, and UIL—putting aside their differences to present a united front on one issue: workplace safety.
Despite diverging views on various labor matters over the past year, the so-called “Triplice” stood together to highlight a troubling rise in workplace accidents and fatalities. In the first two months of 2025 alone, Italy recorded 138 work-related deaths—a 16 percent increase over the same period last year.
“We must remain vigilant,” said Michele Piga, regional secretary of CGIL. “Safety is not a cost; it’s an investment. It’s about improving the quality and dignity of our production system.” Piga also pointed to the case of Daniel Tafa, a young worker in Maniago who died in March after being struck by metal fragments—a tragedy emblematic of the ongoing risks faced by workers in the region.
Alberto Monticco, head of CISL in Friuli Venezia Giulia, echoed the call for reform, saying, “Italy is a republic founded on labor, and we mean decent, dignified, and safe work—fairly paid and allowing individuals to build a future in their own communities.”
Matteo Zorn of UIL criticized what he sees as government inaction. “The state seems to have abdicated its responsibilities on workplace safety, job insecurity, and the rising cost of living,” he said. “Even in a time of near-full employment, we’re still seeing too many accidents—and already three fatalities this year in our region alone.”
March Through Trieste
The regional capital saw one of the largest gatherings of the day. The May Day march set off from Campo San Giacomo at 9 a.m., winding its way through the city and ending at Piazza Unità d’Italia, where national CGIL secretary Maria Grazia Gabrielli addressed the crowd.
In the province of Gorizia, the main event took place in Gradisca d’Isonzo, where participants gathered in Parco di Piazza Unità. The event concluded with remarks by Giuseppe Gesmundo, a national secretary of CGIL.
While the message was somber, the turnout and unity signaled a renewed urgency among Italy’s labor leaders to press for reforms aimed at preventing further tragedies.
