Associazione Lettori di Lingua Straniera in Italia
Association of Foreign Lecturers in Italy
"Equal citizens, equal rights, equal treatment"
25 years of discrimination against foreign lecturers "lettori" in Italian universities
ALLSI - the story - in a nutshell
ALLSI: Association of Foreign Lecturers in Italy: an independent pressure group which aims to help non-Italian citizens enjoy equal treatment under EU single market rules.
In 1980 Italy reformed its universities - granting public law status and rights to its Italian teaching staff - whilst excluding non-Italian lecturers, "lettori".
The lettori claimed they were being illegally discriminated against on the rounds of nationality in breach of the EU Treaties.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) agreed, finding in favour of the lettori 6 times with regard to duration of contract, access to jobs, seniority increments for years of service and pensions.
Italy changed its legislation in 1995 - but this failed to satisfy the ECJ, which found Italy, twice to be in breach of its Treaty obligations to uphold EU law. >
David Petrie
ALLSI chairman
Updated: 12 February 2011
> Italy changed its legislation again in 2004.
In 2006. the ECJ ruled that the 2004 legislation provided a theoretical framework for Italy to conform to EU law. However, the ECJ refused to fine Italy, as requested by the European Commission, saying that the Commission had failed to rebut evidence presented to the Court alleging that Italy was now conforming both in theory and in practice.
Lettori lodged hundreds of court cases in Italian domestic courts (the ECJ rules on matters of principle, domestic courts are tasked with implementation) claiming compensation for loss of earnings and application of the 2004 legislation.
Faced with huge bills for arrears on wages - € 5 million euros for 14 lettori in Padua, € 237,000 in Florence for 1 lettore plus legal costs of € 24,000 - Italy changes its legislation again in December 2010 - restoring its 1995 legislation which had already been deemed to conflict with EU law by the ECJ.
The 2010 legislation "extinguishes" pending lettori court cases.
On 1 February 2011 judges in Pavia and in Naples refuse to implement the new legislation, the Naples judge awards €175,000 in damages and legal costs.