Vatican Museums under fire from workers, local residents

May 24, 2024

VATICAN: Nearly 50 employees of the Vatican Museums have initiated a labour dispute with the Holy See over allegations of poor, unfair, and unsafe working conditions, potentially leading to a class action lawsuit against Pope Francis’ administration.

First reported by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, the complaint involves 49 of the roughly 700 Vatican Museums employees – 47 custodians, an art restorer, and a bookshop employee – represented by Italian lawyer Laura Sgrò, known for her work on other high-profile cases involving the Holy See.

In a petition to Cardinal Fernando Vèrgez Alzaga, president of the Government of the Vatican City State, Sgrò claimed that current regulations create “labour conditions undermining each worker’s health and dignity.” She criticised the management, suggesting that its poor oversight might be driven by profit motives.

Sgrò's letter initiates a mandatory conciliation process under Vatican law. If unsuccessful, this could lead to the first-ever class action suit in a Vatican court. The Vatican has 30 days to respond with proposed measures before judicial proceedings commence.

Employees’ complaints include being “sequestered in case of illness and forced to return unpaid hours due to COVID.” They allege that during sick leave, they are required to stay home all day to be verified by employer-appointed medical personnel, unlike Italian law which specifies limited verification hours. Some employees reported being sanctioned for being away at the doctor’s office when a representative arrived.

Overtime issues are also highlighted, with employees alleging they are sometimes required to work extra hours for lower pay. Sgrò’s letter states, “the employer abuses this tool.” Further grievances include lack of recognition for seniority, arbitrary management practices, and penalties for taking time off to care for sick family members.

Unemployment support is another concern. Vatican employees, not covered by the Italian state’s unemployment program, face a lack of financial relief if they lose their jobs. This has left many workers without income support during employment gaps.

A significant issue raised is the dispute over compensation for hours during the COVID- 19 pandemic when many employees were required to stay home. Additionally, a 2021 directive by Pope Francis freezing seniorityrelated pay increases from 2021-2023 has been contested.

Employees also cite inadequate safety measures at work, lacking “health, biological, and physical risk compensation” despite exposure to tens of thousands of visitors daily. They report safety concerns with only two emergency exits and many unair-conditioned rooms, posing health risks during hot summers. Rising temperatures also threaten the conservation of artworks, and a lack of gendarmes has sometimes led to custodians being attacked by visitors. There are also complaints about the inconsistent enforcement of metal detector protocols for visitors.

Barbara Jatta, director of the Vatican Museums, has not publicly commented on the petition or the conciliation process.

Simultaneously, another dispute involves residents living near the Vatican Museums, who have issued noise complaints against groups of pilgrims and tourists. Residents, disturbed by early morning noise, have lodged complaints with Italian police and Vatican authorities, with little effect. Ingrid, a resident, blamed South Korean groups for the disturbance and expressed frustration at the lack of official action. Michele, another resident, resorted to using a water gun on unruly tourists, fearing the situation will worsen in the hot summer months. -- Crux Now