Migration, trade unionism and self-organisation in the countryside: migrant labourers in the province of Foggia (Italy)

Journal title MONDI MIGRANTI
Author/s Alessandra Corrado, Francesco Caruso, Camilla Macciani
Publishing Year 2023 Issue 2023/2 Language Italian
Pages 19 P. 133-151 File size 199 KB
DOI 10.3280/MM2023-002008
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Political and trade union participation and mobilisation in the case of migrant agricultural labour have found little space in analyses, as a consequence of the characteristics of this specific component, due to both migration and asylum policies and to the transformations of the sector, but also to the difficulties of traditional trade unions in intercepting and representing this component. Adopting the perspective of citizenship from below and of movement or community trade unionism can help to recognise and interpret the dynamics of active involvement and practices of migrant workers to improve living conditions, within their own networks and according to their own logic and projects, but also in collaboration with other actors. The article presents the results of a research conducted with a qualitative methodology in the province of Foggia, in particular in the informal settlements of Torretta Antonacci and Borgo Mezzanone, between 2018 and 2021. The varied landscape of Capitanata, characterised by multiple trade union, para-union and third sector actors, and forms of self-management of the settlements highlights several elements to be taken into account for a reworking of theories related to forms of citizenship from below of subjects formally excluded from direct political participation and yet claiming a public space.

Keywords: movement unionism; citizenship from below; migrant labourers; informal settlements; political participation.

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Alessandra Corrado, Francesco Caruso, Camilla Macciani, Migrazioni, sindacalismo e autorganizzazione nelle campagne: i braccianti migranti in provincia di Foggia (Italia) in "MONDI MIGRANTI" 2/2023, pp 133-151, DOI: 10.3280/MM2023-002008