General Confederation of Labour (, CGdL) was an Italian labor union, founded in 1906, under the initiative of

socialist Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...

militants. Having survived the Fascist dictatorship and the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

as an underground organization, the CGL joined the cross-party

CGIL The Italian General Confederation of Labour (, , CGIL ) is a national trade union centre in Italy. It was formed by an agreement between socialists, communists, and Christian democrats in the "Pact of Rome" of June 1944. In 1950, socialists and ...

labor federation in 1945.

History

Founding

The Confederazione Generale del Lavoro was founded 1 October 1906 but its formation goes back to the first Camera del Lavoro (Workers' Hall) begun in Milan in 1891, and to the founding of its largest constituent unions (especially the FIOM national metal workers' union created in 1901). The CGdL's first secretary was the

Reformist Reformism is a political tendency advocating the reform of an existing system or institution – often a political or religious establishment – as opposed to its abolition and replacement via revolution. Within the socialist movement, ref ...

Socialist Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...

Rinaldo Rigola Rinaldo Rigola (2 February 1868 – 10 January 1954) was an Italian socialist politician who served as the founding secretary general of the General Confederation of Labour (CGdL) in 1906. Early life, career and activities Rigola was born in Bi ...

(1906–1918). It affiliated to the

International Secretariat of National Trade Union Centres The International Secretariat of National Trade Union Centres (ISNTUC), often simply referred to as the International Secretariat and later renamed the International Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), was an international consultative body of trade ...

Growth and decline

In the first few years, membership of the federation grew rapidly, reaching 383,770 in 1911. It then fell, but boomed at the end of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and by 1920 had reached a peak, of 2,200,100. Over time, the trades councils became less important, and the national industrial unions became the dominant force; the CGdL itself always lacked authority, with affiliates freely joining and leaving. During the war, it was the only major European trade union federation to oppose its government's participation in the conflict. After the war, the federation was reluctant to follow the more radical line of the

Italian Socialist Party The Italian Socialist Party (, PSI) was a Social democracy, social democratic and Democratic socialism, democratic socialist political party in Italy, whose history stretched for longer than a century, making it one of the longest-living parti ...

, and this led Rigola to resign in 1918. He was replaced by fellow reformist

Ludovico D'Aragona Ludovico D'Aragona (23 May 1876 – 17 June 1961) was an Italian socialist politician who held several government posts. He also served at the Italian Parliament and Senate. Biography D'Aragona was born in Cernusco sul Naviglio, Milan, on 23 May ...

. The unions undertook a major campaign for a maximum eight-hour working day, but this was soon overtaken by the rise of fascism. The CGdL formed an Alliance of Labour with the syndicalist USI and UIL, which called a

general strike A general strike is a strike action in which participants cease all economic activity, such as working, to strengthen the bargaining position of a trade union or achieve a common social or political goal. They are organised by large coalitions ...

in 1922, but achieved little. Membership of the federation began falling, and by 1924 was down to only 200,000. Its leaders proclaimed that it was apolitical, in the hope of avoiding a ban, but after the right to strike was abolished, in 1926, it could do little. Bruno Buozzi became the general secretary in January 1926, but was forced to flee the country later in the year. On 4 January 1927, the federation decided to dissolve itself.

Underground and Liberation

The decision to disband was opposed by communists, and by left socialists like Buozzi. The communists held a secret trade union congress in Milan in February 1927, also attended by some left-wing socialists. Little activity was possible, and the members largely began working in the official fascist trade unions, in the hope of inspiring resistance. Buozzi, based in France, also maintained a CGdL in exile, which had little influence in Italy. In 1936, he and the communists announced that they had agreed to co-operate, which had little immediate impact, but paved the way for a resurgence of trade union activity in the later part of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Postwar

After its forced suspension, unions were reconstituted under the Pact of Rome (3 June 1944), confederating the socialist, communist and

Christian Democrat Christian democracy is an ideology inspired by Christian ethics#Politics, Christian social teaching to respond to the challenges of contemporary society and politics. Christian democracy has drawn mainly from Catholic social teaching and neo ...

unions in the CGIL (Italian General Confederation of Labor). The influence of the PCI and

Palmiro Togliatti Palmiro Michele Nicola Togliatti (; 26 March 1893 – 21 August 1964) was an Italian politician and statesman, leader of Italy's Italian Communist Party, Communist party for nearly forty years, from 1927 until his death. Born into a middle-clas ...

, was strong in the federation, and in 1948 the PSI and Christian Democrat unions left to form the UIL and CISL.

Affiliates

The following unions were in existence by 1902, and were later involved with the CGdL:

General Secretaries

:1906:

:1918:

:1926: Bruno Buozzi :1926: Battista Magilone

Bibliography

*Antonio Alosco, ''Alle origini del sindacalismo, La ricostruzione della CGL nell’Italia liberata (1943–1944)'', Prefazione di Giorgio Benvenuto, SugarCo Edizioni, Milano, 1979. *Arturo Peregalli, ''L’altra Resistenza. Il PCI e le opposizioni di sinistra in Italia 1943-1945'', Graphos, Genova, 1991.

References

{{Authority control Syndicalist trade unions Trade unions in Italy Modern history of Italy 1906 establishments in Italy Trade unions established in 1906 Trade unions disestablished in 1927