Il conflitto nel lavoro in Italia dal 1994 al 2021: l’ipotesi del Social Movement Unionism

This study focuses on analyzing trade union mobilization in Italy over the last three decades using the Protest Event Analysis (PEA) methodology, in light of the concept of social movement unionism emerging from the cross-fertilization of the fields of industrial relations and social movements. The results indicate that trade unions tend to engage in redefining collective identity, including marginal social actors, adopting new forms of collective expression, and expanding their frame beyond labor issues and national boundaries when coordinating their protests in coalition with other social actors. Specifically, grassroots unions are more likely to catalyze social movement unionism compared to confederal unions. This discrepancy has significant implications for the social inclusivity of protests and the revitalization of trade union identity.