Trade unions and equality, diversity, and inclusion in Italy: Bread and butter, bread and roses, or just breadcrumbs?

Gasparri, Stefano; Fanti, Sara

Abstract

Seeking to clarify what trade unions brought to the promotion of EDI in Italy with the support of three metaphors drawn from the employment relations literature—‘bread and butter’, ‘bread and roses’, and ‘just breadcrumbs’—this chapter provides a historical overview of initiatives in three areas: gender, immigration, and LGBTQ+. First it examines the role of trade unions in the support and implementation of early equality legislation and the ways in which feminism influenced their agenda and praxis. Then this chapter considers recent developments, looking at gender issues—this time in relation to social partnership, policies for working parents, flexible employment, productivity bonuses and employee benefits—as well as at two emerging EDI areas for the Italian context, that is, immigrant workers and LGBTQ+ rights. Overall, the analysis illustrates a variety of trade union initiatives, with some common themes that stand out: the relationship between legislation, collective bargaining, and grassroots activism; the tension between formal and substantive equality; the complex factors affecting trade union decisions, including external constraints; and the dilemmas in the definition and representation of workers’ interests. This chapter concludes with insights into the intricated relationship between trade unions and EDI, in Italy as elsewhere.

• Online Publication Date: May 6, 2025
• Publication Date: May 6, 2025
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2025
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 255-277
• Series Title: Diversity and Inclusion Research
• Book Title: Diversity and Inclusion in Italy
• ISBN: 9783031819377; 9783031819384
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-81938-4_12
• Keywords: EDI; trade unions; gender; immigration, LGBTQ+; collective bargaining; feminism; employment law
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/14412708
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-81938-4_12
• Additional Information: First Online: 6 May 2025