Over a thousand people take part in protests against austerity measures
Published: Monday, Dec 18th 2023, 16:00
Back to Live Feed
Protests against the government's planned austerity measures took place at schools and healthcare institutions in Ticino on Monday. According to the organizers, over a thousand people took a break from work to protest.
Schools in Bellinzona, Locarno, Cadenazzo, Losone, Giornico, Lugano, Mendrisio and Chiasso were among those taking part in the action. Protests took place at both high schools and middle schools, the press spokesperson for the "Rete per la Difesa delle Pensioni" - the "Network for the Defense of Pension Fund Assets" - told the Keystone-SDA news agency on request.
"Only panettone is cut here"
Some elementary school also joined the protest "symbolically", it was said. A poster with the inscription "Qui si taglia solo il panettone, nient'altro" - "Only panettone is cut here, nothing else" - was displayed at the school for social and health services in Lugano as an allusion to the planned cuts.
The aim of the actions was to denounce the wage cuts announced by the Ticino government as part of the 2024 budget, which has not yet been approved by parliament.
Salary cuts of around 2 percent are planned for cantonal employees. In addition, the cost-of-living adjustment is not to be adjusted in line with the cost of living.
The cost-cutting measures proposed by the canton affect all state employees, i.e. employees in schools, universities, hospitals, cantonal clinics, the health and social services and social education.
The next major demonstration is planned for January 20.
©Keystone/SDA
English 
German 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic