Day of mobilization for Italian emigrants abroad

NEWS RELEASE

PATRONATO ITAL-UIL ************************* Day of solidarity and mobilization for the Italian emigrant abroad

SAULT STE. MARIE - (December 10) - A day of solidarity and international mobilization was organized by “CGIL/CISL/UIL” (Italian Labourers’ Unions), for December 10, 2008.

It is a day whereby local unions worldwide, such as the “Patronato ITAL-UIL” in Sault Ste. Marie, have been called to present to the Italian embassies and consulates specific requests for the elderly Italian Immigrants abroad.

These requests include:

- A “cheque of solidarity” for those Italians who are over age 65 and have an income of less than E. 3,000 (single) and E. 5,000 (married).

- A “social cheque," relative to our guaranteed income supplement, available to those who might not have 10 years continued residence in Italy — but rather have sporatic residence in Italy totaling the specified 10 years.

- Facilitation of payment of Italian pensions abroad due to the many difficulties being experienced presently due to remote accessability of banking locations; conversion to currency of their country; requests of too much documentation to cash cheques etc.

- Elimination of community taxes for first-time homeowners in Italy.

- To provide a full or partial sanatorium on outstanding pension debts accrued over the years for Italian pensioners abroad.

- To ratify the bilateral agreement between Canada/Italy as well as Canada/Chile that is already existing but not defined and now out of date.

At the local level, interested Italian representatives from all of the Italian Clubs, City Council, Ital-Uil/UIM, community members, past vice-consulates as well as past CPP/community service personelle, gathered as a united concerned voice at the Marconi Club to show support of the above international requests but added a few of the local concerns as well.

The group agreed that Sault Ste. Marie was in dire need of a consulate office to offer direction in the area of rights and responsibilities to the Italian emigrant.

Also agreed upon was the request to re-open the Italian citizenship issue and to facilitate the procedure.

Due to the fact that there is an aging Italian population, the issue of language barriers within the retirement homes and hospitals was also listed.

Furthermore, preservation of language and culture; health assistance for the aged; international exchange in the area of education/ industry/ and research sectors was also brought forward.

These issues were documented and signed by the parties present at the reunion and forwarded to the consulate general of Italy in Toronto for tabulation and presentation to the Italian government.

Also, they will be forwarded to the head office of Ital-Uil/Italy, also for presentation to the Italian government on behalf of the Italian emigrant abroad.

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