A comparative study of the Maltese and Italian labour movements

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to compare and contrast the Maltese and Italian labour movements. The dissertation starts by presenting a brief history of the Maltese labour movement followed by that of the Italian labour movement. Chapter III compares the philosophy of the respective union movements, their corresponding legal framework of industrial relations, workers' participation, union structure and industrial disputes occurring during the last two decades. A synthesis of the previous chapters and a summary of some of the major findings make up the conclusion. Despite the geographical proximity of the two countries involved, the two labour movements have evolved completely different, due to the difference in physical environment, economic development and cultural patterns of the two countries In fact the Italian influence on the Maltese trade union movement was practically non-existent. An important distinctive feature is the fact that whereas in Italy there seems to be a common effort to attain 'organic unity' within the union movement, the Maltese movement is at the moment divided mainly due to the political polarisation prevalent in the Maltese Islands.