Labour Conflicts in the Italian Crisis.The Case of the Occupied Factories

Following the recession caused by the international crisis that began in 2008, in Italy a specific form of protest against the closure of factories is spreading. Following the declaration of closure of the factory or the announcement of significant reductions in the workforce, the workers carry out permanent garrisons in front of the factories and occupations of the workplace. These actions often use repertoires that involve physical risks for the workers, with the aim to draw the attention of public opinion. The cases that have occurred in Italy share three elements: the goal of the workers is to save their job; these collective actions are often risky for the workers; the appeal to the public opinion is a key element of the action. Considering the researches already accomplished on this form of protest, the paper presents the results of a research carried out in 2012 in a big factory in the province of Milan, occupied by workers for more than a year. The dimensions investigated in the paper are the following: a) the mobilization factors that led to an effective and lasting struggle against the closure of the factory; b) the representation of the workers on the economic crisis, the austerity policies and the economic and social situation in Italy and Europe; c) the cultural orientations and the collective identities emerging in these conflicts; d) the political and social actors that the workers consider as their opponents or their allies.