Staff at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery and other Tuscan museums have announced a strike set for 5th November, following unresolved issues over employment contracts.
Approximately 200 employees, including ticket office, security, and reception staff, will participate in the strike. This will impact key cultural institutions such as the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti, the Polo Museale Toscana, and the Opificio Pietre Dure.
The union groups Filcams Cgil, Uiltucs, and Rsu Opera stated the dispute stems from the Uffizi’s new director, Simone Verde, rejecting an agreement signed by former director Eike Schmidt in December 2023. That agreement, made amid a tender for a new contractor, aimed to protect workers’ jobs and benefits during the management transition. However, the recent lack of agreement leaves employees uncertain about their future as the new contractor, Coopculture, prepares to take over from the current operator, Opera.
According to Corriere Fiorentino, during the 5th November strike, the Uffizi Galleries will open for a limited period from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm, and Palazzo Pitti is expected to remain closed. Other museums in Florence and surrounding areas, including the Medici Villas, may also close in solidarity.
Social clause under question
The tender for museum services, managed by Schmidt, was awarded to Coopculture in August 2023. Although the transition was planned to ensure job and wage continuity for existing staff, the social clause in the agreement has reportedly not been upheld. The museum’s management expressed willingness to support the social clause but clarified that it cannot offer absolute job security under current laws. Director Verde can only use “moral suasion” to encourage employers to maintain job protections. Despite Coopculture’s indication that it will strive for continuity in employment, no binding commitments have been established, intensifying concerns over job security.
Union leaders have stated the strike will only be called off if an agreement is reached between Coopculture and the unions before 5th November. With over 300 workers potentially affected, some political figures have also intervened, urging for a resolution. Dario Danti, Florence’s councillor for labour, called for a single roundtable meeting to address the Uffizi case and similar disputes at other cultural sites. Representatives of Tuscany’s Democratic Party have likewise voiced support for the workers, stressing the need to honour Schmidt’s original agreement to protect employment stability in the region’s vital cultural sector.
