1. Trade unions and immigrants in Europe and Italy
Maurizio Ambrosini, University of Milan, editor of the journal “Mondi migranti”
Trade unions and immigrants in Europe and Italy

2. Immigrants and Trade Unions in Europe(1)
At the beginning, a difficult relation, especially in Northern Europe (Castles and Kosack 1973; Roosblad and Penninx 2000; Pajares 2008; Hyland 2012)
In recent years, fears of competition between immigrants and European citizens (the 'Polish plumber')
But also anti-discrimination measures, dismantling entry barriers to union participation (Avci and McDonald, 2000)
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3. Immigrants and Trade Unions in Europe(2)
More commitment towards the general conditions of immigrants and their legal status (Penninx and Roosblad)
Support to struggles and movements “from below” (Anderson)
Actions in favour of irregular immigrants
Connections with other social actors

4. Functions of trade unions towards immigrants
representation of their interests as workers;
promotion of political participation as members of society;
provision of services to improve their living conditions (Marino 2007)
Can be added a fourth: the opportunities for social mobility by means of unions and political 'careers'

5. Immigrant and trade unions in Southern Europe
In Southern Europe, trade unions are a key point of reference for immigrants, included the irregular sojourners.
They have promoted:
measures to legalize irregular immigrants;
orientation services;
assistance in bureaucratic procedures (renewal of visas, applications for regularization, family reunions….);
labour disputes with the employers
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6. The reasons for the commitment of trade unions in Southern Europe
tradition of political commitment, even beyond work issues;
weak embeddedness in political and economic choices, which adversarial positions;
concern to restrict the space of the informal economy and undeclared work;
immigrants as potential new members and activists (Marino and Roosblad 2008)
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7. A changing role?
Unions are often proposing themselves, about immigration, as civil society actors engaged in the extension of citizenship rights, even beyond the economic sphere.
Implicit social work: immigration offices as informal social services
Provision of many services, beyond work
Involvement of volunteers and immigrants as operators
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8. The insertion of immigrants in Italy
A spontaneous process, socially constructed « from below»
The condition of undocumented workers as the first step of the migrants’ career in Italy (7 amnesties in 25 years)
The importance of ethnic networks
The role of civil society and social actors (trade unions, volunteer associations, the Catholic church, NGOs)

9. Trade unions and immigrants
Large success in organizing: more than one million of members It is the fastest growth among active workers

10. Types of social workers in trade unions
Distance from users
Type of support
low
high
global
Supportive social worker
Technical social worker
specific
Flexible social worker
Specialized social worker

11. Three aspects of success
Membership
Political representation and influence
Networking with other civil society actors (anti-racist movements, NGOs, Catholic church)

12. Progress
Collective agreements including provisions for immigrants (collective protection)
Individual grievances against employers (individual protection)
Growing inclusion of immigrants in trade unions structures: but more in services than in political responsibilities
Different types of immigrant shop-stewards (from expert activists to radical militants)

13. Issues Passage from the role of clients to the role of active members
Careers of immigrants in trade unions
Mobilization against ethnic discrimination
Maintreaming immigrants’ issues
Tensions with native members and their interests
Challenge from radical organizations (COBAS): in logistics, for instance

14. Conclusions
Immigrants challenge traditional unions’ structures and practices
They demand an enlargement of trade unions’ scope and concerns
They push workers’ movements to connect with other actors
They question the forms of organizing, the balance between unions’ hierarchy and movements from below, the space that unions give to migrants in their own structures