On 11 March 2025, as part of the in-depth thematic insights addressed to the trainees of the XL Advanced Training Course, the SFP Director, National Police Dirigente Generale Maurizio Vallone, opened the meeting held at the Institute’s Cenacolo Conference Hall and welcomed the lecturers attending this event. Moreover, he underlined the topicality of the subject matter and emphasized that, on 17 February 2025, the collective bargaining agreement for the security sector was signed. This agreement was defined as ‘historic’ by the Director himself, since for the first time the APCSM (Professional Associations of Military Trade Unions) also took part, thus marking a significant moment in the recognition of the rights of workers in the security and defence sector.
Mr. Raffaele Fabozzi, Full Professor of Labour Law at the Department of Law of the L.U.I.S.S. ‘Guido Carli’ University in Rome, who acted as moderator at the meeting, opened the session by giving an outline of the main stages that, since the post Second World War period, passing through the social turmoil of ‘68 and the first legislative intervention aimed at creating for the first time a form of representation in the military sector, introduced by Law 382 of 1978, led to the granting of much broader rights of representation to the Police Forces, in line with the principles of art. 39 of the Constitution, with the important exception of the right to strike.
This was a necessary limitation, reiterated by several rulings of the Constitutional Court, the last of them in 2022, which emphasized that strikes in the Police Forces cannot be granted in order to avoid seriously compromising the security of the State and the freedom of citizens.
Prefetto Stefano Gambacurta, Deputy Chief of Police, responsible for the coordination of the Police Forces, delivered his remarkable lecture and emphasized how collective bargaining in this special sector moves along three main lines: that of the civil Police Forces, the Military Forces and the Armed Forces.
Each of these Forces is characterized by its own peculiarities, as well as by organisational and operational methods that require a very articulated and constant work of mediation.
This task becomes even more delicate in the context of collective bargaining, since the dialogue between the different components requires a balance that not only must respect individual needs, but also contribute to build a system of relations able to ensure the smooth functioning of the entire sector. Then, Prefetto Gambacurta illustrated the origins of the security and defence sector in the public framework, and highlighted the evolution leading to the creation of a single category bargaining, thus overcoming previous laws that generated significant differences and consequent difficult problems in terms of public expenditure management.
Mr. Eugenio Gallozzi, Advisor to the Minister for Public Administration, who has an extraordinary and consolidated experience in the field of public bargaining, offered an in-depth overview of the internal dynamics of bargaining and underlined the complex changing elements that can arise and must be skillfully managed to reach a satisfactory agreement for all parties involved.
Among some food for thought that came to light, Mr. Gallozzi recalled, with a very interesting historical description, how, following Law 121 of 1981, the other Police Forces have increasingly sought to obtain the same economic and legal rights recognized to the National Police, the so-called equalization. Moreover, he explained that a successful negotiation must focus its attention on the complicated legal and interpersonal mechanisms regulating this process.
This process, if well managed, fosters an environment of mutual trust, thus avoiding conflicts and promoting shared solutions that are very good for both representatives and those represented.
Then, the panel discussion ended and received a broad appreciation in relation to the value and importance of the topic under discussion, which directly involves security, welfare and the motivation of members of the Armed Forces and Police Forces, who are daily engaged in protecting the freedom of all citizens. The strength and the importance of these topics must be recognized as essential to ensure a balance between workers’ rights and operational needs and to promote a fair, balanced bargaining system capable of responding to contemporary challenges.
