The Independent Trade Union and Civil Servants Center (CSIF) is collaborating with the Italian law firm of lawyers Romolo Reboa and Roberta Verginelli in a lawsuit filed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation in which they request the reinstatement of a worker from the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See, sick with cancer, who was fired at the end of his leave.

According to CSIF in a statement published on its website, “the Civil Guard previously prevented him from returning to his job, after completing his leave, by express order of those responsible for the Spanish representation without giving him any justifiable reason at that time.”

The dismissed worker, CSIF representative in the PLEX Single Committee before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is of Italian nationality and worked as an orderly, providing assistance between the administrative sector and management.

CSIF points out that the salary at the Embassy was the only income that the worker received for a family unit of five people, one of them with a degree of cognitive disability of 75%.

According to the union, it all began on August 4, when the dismissed worker ended his sick leave. That same day he notified the Embassy and the Ministry that he would return to his job on August 7, but that same day the Civil Guard prohibited him from accessing the interior of the building.

Upon learning of this fact, CSIF explains that it contacted the chancellor of the embassy to ask for explanations, and that the response received was that a dismissal procedure had been initiated through an Italian law firm.

As the union points out, after requesting the pertinent official clarifications, the dismissed worker was summoned 20 days later to inform him of the details, but said meeting was suspended a few days before it took place because he was prevented from attending accompanied by his legal advisors, as stated. solicitous. About a month passed until, after a new request from CSIF, the deputy deputy director of Personnel informed them that the chancellor was waiting for a certification from the interested party proving that his illness was long-term.

CSIF indicates that the worker had not exceeded the maximum sick leave period established by Italian legislation for the dismissal to be appropriate.

As CSIF recalls, Spanish legislation provides for a period of illness for the worker of 365 days, extendable for another 180, but without implying termination of the contract. The union points out that the employee did not receive the dismissal letter until September 21 and that, during that time, he was deprived of his salary for the months of July, August and the days of September until he was notified.

The union also points out that the Embassy has previously tried to sanction him on two occasions. In one of them, “due to an injury justified by a medical report that prevented him from opening a very heavy door in the Embassy” and, in another, “for not answering calls from a telephone whose cable had broken, and which the worker had notified on several occasions so that they could proceed with its maintenance”.

CSIF is collaborating with the Italian law firm of lawyers Romolo Reboa and Roberta Verginelli in the lawsuit filed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting reinstatement to their job and payment of compensation for the months in which they did not receive their salary. According to them, the prohibition of a union representative from joining his job violates the Organic Law of Freedom of Association.

Likewise, the worker has sent a letter to the Chamber of Deputies in Italy, addressed to the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, denouncing the events.