| Associazione Lettori di Lingua Straniera in Italia |
| Association of Foreign Lecturers in Italy |
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FOREIGN-LANGUAGE lettori from Milan, Naples, Pisa and Verona were in the European Court of Justice on 15 November to hear the European Commission request daily fines of EUR309,750 (£208,000) against Italy for its continuing failure to recognise the lecturers’ full labour rights.
In March 2004 the Berlusconi government issued a decree, widely viewed as cynical, after the commission had rejected a less controversial draft.
At the hearing, commission lawyer Enrico Traversa asked for the Italian government to place all lettori on the same pay scale as full-time researchers (ricercatori). But Italian state advocate Ivo Braguglia argued that only 237 lettori at six universities were involved since the rest had either settled or were not included in the commission’s case, and that they should be paid as part-time researchers on an hourly scale.
David Petrie, chair of the foreign lecturers’ association in Italy, described the hearing as excellent and the decree as ‘an attempt to reimpose discrimination in another form by denying us the opportunity, which all Italian lecturers enjoy, of choosing between part-time and full-time employment’.
Sir Neil MacCormick QC, an Edinburgh law professor who has been backing the lecturers’ battle, said: ‘It is shocking that sixteen years have elapsed since the first judgement against Italy, with no adequate response yet.’
The tragic death of a lettrice in Trieste who committed suicide in November has increased nationwide unrest among lecturers complaining of psychological pressure due to insistent downgrading and the ongoing denial of proper status, recognition and dignity.
The advocate general’s opinion will be presented to the thirteen judges on 26 January 2006. A final decision in this fifth related case to have reached the European courts is expected by next summer [2006].