Migrant Workers Fight Exploitation in Italian Textile Sector with Grassroots Union
In Prato, Italy, migrant workers producing clothing for international luxury brands like Montblanc endure extreme exploitation, including 84-hour weeks and violent attacks when organizing. The grassroots union Sudd Cobas, with about 1,000 members, has been fighting since 2018 for a 40-hour workweek and has organized 200 factories. Despite repression and violence, the union continues to mobilize workers, while established unions fail to address the issues. Union leaders Luca Toscano and Sarah Caudiero discuss their strategies in an interview with der Freitag.
Key facts
- Migrant workers in Prato, Italy, face 84-hour weeks and low wages.
- Workers are beaten to the point of hospitalization for organizing.
- Sudd Cobas is a grassroots union with about 1,000 members.
- The union has organized 200 factories since 2018.
- Luxury brand Montblanc is named as one of the brands involved.
- Union leaders Luca Toscano and Sarah Caudiero are quoted.
- Established unions have failed to address the exploitation.
- Repression and violence have not stopped the union's success.
Entities
Institutions
- Sudd Cobas
- Montblanc
- der Freitag
Locations
- Prato
- Italy