In search of representation: the difficult relationships between unemployment and unions. Suggestions from the ‘Movimento dei disoccupati organizzati’

The representation of the unemployed has been, and still is, a problem difficult to face for the trade unions. On the other hand the union representation is not the only form of representation of the unemployed. There have been in various historical moments and in various countries autonomous forms or representation with different types of relations with the national unions. The other main question concerns the forms of organization of the unemployed within the unions, For short term unemployed belonging to a specific union branch, there is no need nor a tradition of specific organization. Different is the situation for long term unemployed or for workers with no specific work experience, or young people in search of a first job. The question is particularly relevant now with the explosion of unemployment among young people and with the long lasting experience of deindustrialization. The case of Naples and of the “movimento disoccupati organizzati (organized unemployed movement)” can be useful in order to understand the issues of organization and representation of the unemployed in other areas-. The “movimento” is a grassroots organization born in the seventies in the historical centre of Naples. Their request was basically the creation of jobs in public services or in urban renewal. It has been characterized by relatively high dynamics in its social composition. The actors of this movement are mostly urban unemployed, precarious workers and women employed in unskilled and unprotected work. Our research on the “movimento dei disoccupati” – starting with a comparative analysis with other relevant experience in this field, particularly in the ‘thirties - is based on a thoroughgoing overview of documentary sources on the ‘movimento’ on meetings and interviews with the local actors involved. The aim is to explore whether and how the need of representation of this part of the workers is met and which relations are established with other actors (unions, political parties, institutions). The movement shows a prolonged struggle for recognition (Honneth 1996) and can be considered as an actual example of capacity to aspire (Appadurai 2004).