A new revolutionary practice: operaisti and the 'refusal of work' in 1970's Italy

The social protest that engulfed Italy in the 1970s found a theoretical analysis in the work of the operaisti. Through a series of concepts, they outlined a new revolutionary practice that aimed to return to a more authentic reading of Marxism. This article focuses on the notion of ‘refusal of work’ and the ancillary concept of ‘appropriation’ and examines how these theoretical tools emerged out of radical protest in factories and were put forward by the operaisti as a central plank of a revolutionary strategy for the working clas

Managerial strategies and trade unions in the company environment

Over the last ten to fifteen years the prospects for a trade union role and collective action in western European countries have been approached largely via a paradigm of crisis of representation and decline. This article argues that uncertainty is equally characteristic of managerial strategies and that, paradoxically enough, the exercise of the trade union function of representation of labour may prove to be particularly crucial in the management of the most innovative organisations, insofar as it can help build the social consensus which such organisations increasingly require. From this perspective, industrial relations at the workplace in the eighties and early nineties are re-interpreted as attempts to secure employee commitment through new uses of the traditional methods of collective bargaining. The more recent developments are then approached by discussing the quite unexpected role played by trade unions and works councils in the two fields - often seen as typical of managerial prerogatives - of the development of key human resources and of programmes for direct employee participation in organisational change. Finally, a new conceptual framework for analysis of the problems facing the labour movement is outlined. </jats:p

Concertazione locale. Note a partire da una ricerca empirica

Drawing on the results of a comparative empirical study coordinated by the author, the article discusses the main characteristics of concerted policy making and/or policy implementation at the local (or meso) level, such as territorial pacts, territorial negotiations, local partnerships. The differences with national macro level concertation (e.g. social pacts)are highlighted. The potential and limits of this method of decision making and problem solving are finally emphasised

La regolazione del lavoro nelle piccole imprese

Il contributo affronta la regolazione del lavoro nelle piccole imprese (5-49 addetti): tema sottovalutato nel dibattito pubblico e scientifico, ma di notevole rilevanza per il grande peso quantitativo di questa realtà socio-economica e per i risvolti di policy che ne possono derivare. Utilizzando un ampio approccio analitico che allarga lo sguardo alle dinamiche delle relazioni sia all’interno sia all’esterno dell’impresa, vengono individuati quattro diversi modelli di regolazione, la cui logica apre a riflessioni più generali sui modi di concettualizzare oggi le relazioni di impiego.il contributo affronta la regolazione del lavoro nelle piccole imprese (5-49 addetti): tema sottovalutato nel dibattito pubblico e scientifico, ma di notevole rilevanza per il grande peso quantitativo di questa realtà socio-economica e per i risvolti di policy che ne possono derivare. utilizzando un ampio approccio analitico che allarga lo sguardo alle dinamiche delle relazioni sia all’interno sia all’esterno dell’impresa, vengono individuati quattro diversi modelli di regolazione, la cui logica apre a riflessioni più generali sui modi di concettualizzare oggi le relazioni di impiego. la regolazione del lavoro nelle piccole imprese ida regali

Réflexions sur le rôle ds syndicats : l’expérience italienne récente

Au cours des années 1980, les systèmes syndicaux de la majeure partie des pays les plus industrialisés ont été exposés à de nombreux défis et tensions, de sorte qu'il est aujourd'hui convenu de parler de crise des syndicats et de leur rôle. S'appuyant sur quelques aspects de l'expérience italienne, cet article soutient qu'au moins dans certains pays, il vaudrait mieux s'interroger prioritairement sur les transformations récentes du rôle exercé de fait par les organisations syndicales et sur les changements possibles dans les formes de leurs rapports avec les travailleurs qu'elles représentent.In thé 1980s, trade unions in the majority of the most industrialized nations have been exposed to numerous challenges and tensions, to the extent that it has become a platitude to speak of crisis in this sector. On the basis of some aspects of the Italian experience, this paper affirms that, at least in some countries, it is better to look first into recent transformations of the role actually played by trade union organizations and into the possible changes in the types of their relationships with the workers that they represent.En el curso de los años 80, los sistemas sindicales de la mayoría de los países industrializados han debido enfrentar numerosos desafíos y tensiones de manera que en ese sector, hablar de crisis es ya algo habitual. Apoyándose en algunos aspectos de la experiencia italiana, este artículo afirma que al menos en ciertos países, sería mejor preguntarse de manera prioritaria sobre las recientes transformaciones del rol ejercido de hecho por las organizaciones sindicales y sobre los cambios posibles en los tipos de relaciones con los trabajadores que ellas representan

Note sul Protocollo Amazon per la definizione di un sistema condiviso di relazioni industriali

The article explores the reasons and the rationale behind the framework collective agreement on industrial relations reached by Amazon and the trade unions in Italy on September 15, 2021 - the first ever nation-wide collective agreement signed by the e-commerce giant in the world. Through a comparative perspective, this unique and largely unexpected event is interpreted in the light of the specific features of the Italian industrial relations system: a system still characterised by a low level of institutionalisation lacking formalized and stable rules governing relations between the actors, but in which such actors –especially the trade unions – have consolidated over time their organizational capacity and ability to mobilize their represented. These features may indeed facilitate innovation under favourable circumstances, as it happened in a period of rapid expansion of the multinational and of growing perception therefore of the need to maintain social peace and preserve its reputation as responsible organization. The main strengths and weaknesses of the agreement are finally discussed.El artículo investiga las motivaciones subyacentes al Acuerdo Colectivo Marco sobre Relaciones Laborales alcanzado por Amazon y los sindicatos en Italia el 15 de septiembre de 2021 - el primer acuerdo colectivo a nivel nacional firmado por el gigante del comercio electrónico en el mundo. A través de un análisis comparativo, este acuerdo, único y en gran parte inesperado, se interpreta a la luz de las especificidades del sistema italiano de relaciones laborales: un sistema todavía caracterizado por un bajo nivel de institucionalización y sin normas formalizadas que gobiernen las relaciones entre los actores, pero en el que estos actores - sobre todo los sindicatos - han consolidado a lo largo del tiempo su capacidad organizativa y de movilización de sus representantes. Estas características, en circunstancias favorables, pueden efectivamente facilitar la innovación de las relaciones laborales, como sucedió durante el período de rápida expansión de la multinacional, acompañado de una creciente necesidad de mantener la paz social y preservar la reputación de organización responsable. Por último, en el artículo se discuten los principales puntos fuertes y débiles del Acuerdo.L'articolo esplora le motivazioni alla base dell'Accordo collettivo quadro sulle relazioni industriali raggiunto da Amazon e dai sindacati in Italia il 15 settembre 2021 - il primo accordo collettivo a livello nazionale firmato dal colosso dell'e-commerce nel mondo. Attraverso un'analisi comparata, questo accordo, unico e in gran parte inatteso, viene interpretato alla luce delle specificità del sistema italiano di relazioni industriali: un sistema ancora caratterizzato da un basso livello di istituzionalizzazione e privo di regole formalizzate che governino le relazioni tra gli attori, ma in cui tali attori - soprattutto i sindacati - hanno consolidato nel tempo la loro capacità organizzativa e di mobilitazione dei propri rappresentati. Tali caratteristiche, in presenza di circostanze favorevoli, possono effettivamente facilitare l'innovazione delle relazioni industriali, come è accaduto durante il periodo di rapida espansione della multinazionale accompagnato da una crescente necessità di mantenere la pace sociale e di preservare la reputazione di organizzazione responsabile. Nell'articolo sono infine discussi i principali punti di forza e di debolezza dell'Accordo.

Local-level concertation: the scope for innovative regulation of non-standard forms of employment in Europe

The paper presents the main findings of research into the interest of the social partners and local institutions in seeking new ways to regulate the use of non-standard forms of employment. The research, based on case studies, revealed an unexpectedly broad scenario of concerted initiatives, highly heterogeneous and not always successful, at the local level and within companies. On the basis of the objectives pursued by such initiatives, it is possible to identify logics of intervention which differ in the extent to which they distance themselves from the model of protection traditionally associated with standard forms of employment. In the most innovative cases, alternative forms of protection are devised either by redefining the boundaries within which workers are entitled to stability and protection, or by releasing workers from the need to establish permanent relations with a firm in order to enjoy rights and security. Such solutions challenge established practices of labour regulation, but are perhaps also best suited to the way in which the world of work and production is changing, at least if the aim is to provide more extensive, inclusive ‘light’ protection for everyone, rather than ‘heavy’ protection for only a few. </jats:p