[1] At the end of her studies and after an apprenticeship in the Cisnal Agriculture Trade Union Federation, she became a member of the Confederal press office.

She started reforms in terms of representativeness in the public sector and in the reorganization of social assistance services of the Trade Union.

She worked to reach agreements with the Prodi, D'Alema and Berlusconi governments, and contributed to all the major reforms of labour market (Law nr.

In February 2006 she was elected as (with 96.7% of votes) Secretary General of UGL, first woman in Italy to lead a Trade Union confederation.

Bonino is known as a pro-choice activist, while Polverini was against abortion rights and thus received support from Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference.