Rai journalists are going on strike today, Monday, May 6. The decision was made via a video message shown on all of the public broadcaster's news shows under the name Usigrai (the Rai journalists' union). "For the first time in many years, RAI journalists will totally abstain from work," according to the video message. Here are the reasons: "Protesting against the choices of the top management that merges newspapers without discussing it with the union, does not replace those who retire and go on maternity leave by making the workloads fall on those who remain, without a public selection and without stabilizing the precarious, cuts pay by unilaterally removing the performance bonus". "In recent days," the text goes on to say, "it has become public knowledge that Rai has tried to censor a monologue on April 25, only to then, in obvious difficulty, try to turn it into an economic issue". So, as the message concludes: "We would rather miss one or more days of compensation than lose our freedom, since we believe that the independence and autonomy of public service are valuable to everyone. And Rai belongs to everyone." The corporation responded quickly, sending a video message. "The decision of the Usigrai union to strike on grounds that have nothing to do with workers' rights is framed in ideological and political motivations," said the union's officials. It additionally stated that "Rai's current governance is working to transform the public service into a modern Digital Media Company".