For (an environmentally) Just transition: unions ‘strategies in the Italian steel industry in a de-industrialized area

• In Event: 50620 - Section on Environmental Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 9: Environmental Social Movements

Abstract

The dilemma between employment and environment directly affects around 20 million European workers and their unions in the industry. Among the sectors most affected by this dilemma, and the potential crises it provokes is the strategic steel production, which has long been facing the decarbonisation of production and the transition to alternative energies.
This paper will focus on the role of trade unions in this innovative process in a critical vision that brings out the role they really play in a complex system of industrial relation. Particularly, the article proposes an analysis of the union's negotiating action, and specifically those relating to the environment and health that are at the basis of the mobilisations in the workplace and outside.
The analysis will be conducted on the case of ILVA steel plant in Taranto (Italy). It represents the most important European integrated cycle plant and the main source of steel in Italy. This area presents, like others in the Southern Italy, the consequences of the serious industrial crisis whose outcomes are still uncertain between ungoverned de-industrialisation and new industrialisation oriented to a green economy that guarantees increasing levels of environmental and social sustainability. The emergence of the ILVA’ ‘environmental disaster’ in its current contours can be traced back to 2012. The dramatic events linked to the consequences for the health of workers and citizens and for environment make it an emblematic European case. Empirically, we will draw on data on more than 300 workers’ collective action (strikes, protest and less contentious action) referred to ILVA from 2012 to 2023. The theoretical framework combines theories of contentious politics and industrial relations renewed by the introduction of the Protest Event Analysis (PEA) methodology. Additionally, we will focus on in-depth interviews with Italian trade union leaders to explore the future of the ILVA plant.

Authors

• Margherita Sabrina Perra, University of Cagliari

• Katia Pilati, University of Trento

• Lidia Greco, University of Bari (Italy)