The collective dismissal procedure has been started for 38 employees employed under the contract of sacrists and reception and security personnel in San Giovanni Rotondo, in the province of Foggia. At the center of the dispute is the San Pio da Pietrelcina foundation, which links the drastic decision “to the economic impact deriving from the increase in personnel costs to be incurred for the renewal of the national collective labor agreement for sacrists 2026-2029, combined with an alleged contraction in the flow of pilgrims”.
The dismissals of the Padre Pio foundation
Less and less faithful for Padre Pio, therefore, behind the decision. A decline that has already forced the closure of several shops in Viale Padre Pio, where many of the place of worship’s revenues are based precisely on offers and purchases of sacred articles and devotional souvenirs. Among the friars of San Giovanni Rotondo there is Father Fedele Conte, 92 years old, uncle of the leader of the 5 Star Movement Giuseppe Conte: “The sacrists no longer work here: now there are nuns”, he said. In fact, the sisters have already taken the place of paid employees for some time.
The unions are calling for a discussion
A bolt from the blue for the unions. Filcams and Fisascat Cisl of Foggia have asked for “an immediate comparison of verification and examination” of what was declared by the foundation, reserving the right to implement “all political-union and mobilization procedures in defense of employment”. “We express our firmest and total opposition to the opening of the collective dismissal procedure by the San Pio da Pietrelcina foundation of San Giovanni Rotondo”, say the general secretaries Pierluigi Di Stasio (Filcams) and Antonio Farino (Fisascat). “The procedure, formalized on 24 September 2026 late in the evening – they explain – involves 38 employees out of a total of 89 of the workforce employed in key services related to the life of the sanctuary”.
The letter to the Pope
“We do not ask her for a promise. We ask her for a word. We entrust ourselves to her in a moment of great apprehension. We ask her to help us not to lose hope”: this is the direct appeal that a representation of the sacrists of the San Pio da Pietrelcina foundation addressed to Pope Leo XIV. The letter, dated 1 October, brings directly to the pontiff’s attention the case of the employees who have been engaged for years in the reception, security service and daily management of the spaces frequented by the pilgrims of San Pio. It is not signed by all the workers affected by the collective dismissal procedure, but by a representation of the foundation’s sacrists.