Italian workers at NATO base protest Musk's weekly report demand
Italian employees at the NATO base in Aviano received a directive from a department led by Elon Musk to submit weekly work reports. As reported by the newspaper "Il Messaggero," they were asked to justify their presence by explaining whether they are actually needed. Trade unions are protesting.
The newspaper "Il Messaggero" explains that this concerns Italians working in the local commercial area, including firefighters, school staff, and the entire support staff of the NATO base. Similar to the Americans stationed there, Italian citizens were given the task by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to describe their professional activities over the last week in five points. The reports are to be sent every Monday by noon.
Unions oppose Musk's demands
Submitting weekly reports is part of the strategy by Musk's department, which requires federal employees to justify their work. The task directed at the staff of the US-administered base in Aviano was immediately met with a reaction from Italian trade unions.
"We immediately demanded explanations," said union activist Angelo Zaccaria. The unions highlighted that Italian employees should not be subject to the same rules as Americans, as their contracts are based on national legislation.
The base's public affairs office quickly responded to DOGE's demand, assuring that Musk's directive should not apply to Italian employees. However, before this assurance reached them, some employees had already replied to the emails.
The unions have announced that they will demand that the matter be fully clarified at the national level to ensure that Italian workers do not have to meet American requirements.
