IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ssa/lemwps/2020-21.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Trade unions' responses to Industry 4.0 amid corporatism and resistance

Author

Listed:
  • Valeria Cirillo
  • Matteo Rinaldini
  • Jacopo Staccioli
  • Maria Enrica Virgillito

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to shed light on the paths, directions, and ensuing degrees of technological adoption fostered by trade unions or, alternatively, forms of resistance thereof, in the so called 'Italian Motor-Valley', a distinctive technological district located in the outskirts of Bologna, Italy, specialised in the engineering/automotive industry. We find that the introduction of Industry 4.0 technology opens up a new space of action for trade unions in influencing firms' decisions on technological adoption. However, this new scope can have ambiguous effects, depending on how the process is governed. On the one hand, trade unions' involvement in said decisions might end up fostering corporatist tendencies, favouring the alignment of workers' and managers' objectives. On the other hand, such a major involvement can help both recompose old forms of dualism and revitalising workers' role in the crucial issue of work organisation.

Suggested Citation

  • Valeria Cirillo & Matteo Rinaldini & Jacopo Staccioli & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2020. "Trade unions' responses to Industry 4.0 amid corporatism and resistance," LEM Papers Series 2020/21, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    • Handle: RePEc:ssa:lemwps:2020/21
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.lem.sssup.it/WPLem/files/2020-21.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stefano Costa & Stefano De Santis & Giovanni Dosi & Roberto Monducci & Angelica Sbardella & Maria Enrica, 2023. "From organizational capabilities to corporate performances: at the roots of productivity slowdown," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 32(6), pages 1217-1244.
    2. Genz, Sabrina & Bellmann, Lutz & Matthes, Britta, 2018. "Do German Works Councils Counter or Foster the Implementation of Digital Technologies?," IZA Discussion Papers 11616, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Braakmann, Nils & Brandl, Bernd, 2016. "The Efficacy of Hybrid Collective Bargaining Systems: An Analysis of the Impact of Collective Bargaining on Company Performance in Europe," MPRA Paper 70025, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Armanda Cetrulo & Dario Guarascio & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2020. "Anatomy of the Italian occupational structure: concentrated power and distributed knowledge," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 29(6), pages 1345-1379.
    5. Yongxin Liao & Fernando Deschamps & Eduardo de Freitas Rocha Loures & Luiz Felipe Pierin Ramos, 2017. "Past, present and future of Industry 4.0 - a systematic literature review and research agenda proposal," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(12), pages 3609-3629, June.
    6. Paola Tubaro & Antonio A. Casilli, 2019. "Micro-work, artificial intelligence and the automotive industry," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 46(3), pages 333-345, September.
    7. Élodie Béthoux & Arnaud Mias, 2021. "How does State-led decentralization affect workplace employment relations? The French case in a comparative perspective," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 27(1), pages 5-21, March.
    8. Streeck, Wolfgang, 1998. "The internationalization of industrial relations in Europe: Prospects and problems," MPIfG Discussion Paper 98/2, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
    9. Susan Houseman & Machiko Osawa (ed.), 2003. "Nonstandard Work in Developed Economies: Causes and Consequences," Books from Upjohn Press, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, number nwde.
    10. Angelo Moro & Matteo Rinaldini & Jacopo Staccioli & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2019. "Control in the era of surveillance capitalism: an empirical investigation of Italian Industry 4.0 factories," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 46(3), pages 347-360, September.
    11. Anna M. Ponzellini, 2017. "Organizzazione del lavoro e relazioni industriali. Una rassegna degli studi degli ultimi 20 anni in Italia," Economia & lavoro, Carocci editore, issue 1, pages 147-164.
    12. Sven-Vegard Buer & Jan Ola Strandhagen & Felix T. S. Chan, 2018. "The link between Industry 4.0 and lean manufacturing: mapping current research and establishing a research agenda," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(8), pages 2924-2940, April.
    13. Thomas Haipeter, 2020. "Digitalisation, unions and participation: the German case of ‘industry 4.0’," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(3), pages 242-260, May.
    14. Addison, John T & Schnabel, Claus & Wagner, Joachim, 2001. "Work Councils in Germany: Their Effects on Establishment Performance," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 53(4), pages 659-694, October.
    15. Grout, Paul A, 1984. "Investment and Wages in the Absence of Binding Contracts: A Nash Bargining Approach," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 52(2), pages 449-460, March.
    16. Virginia Doellgast & Ian Greer, 2007. "Vertical Disintegration and the Disorganization of German Industrial Relations1," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 45(1), pages 55-76, March.
    17. Mattia Gambilonghi, 2020. "Industrial Democracy and Social Transformation in the Workers’ Movement in Italy and in Europe," Economia & lavoro, Carocci editore, issue 2, pages 13-30.
    18. Angelo Moro & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2022. "Towards Factory 4.0? Convergence and divergence of lean models in Italian automotive plants," International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 22(2), pages 245-271.
    19. Wolfgang Streeck, 1998. "The Internationalization of Industrial Relations in Europe: Prospects and Problems," Politics & Society, , vol. 26(4), pages 429-459, December.
    20. Jurgens, Ulrich & Krzywdzinski, Martin, 2016. "New Worlds of Work: Varieties of Work in Car Factories in the BRIC Countries," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198722670, Decembrie.
    21. Cirillo, Valeria & Fanti, Lucrezia & Mina, Andrea & Ricci, Andrea, 2023. "The adoption of digital technologies: Investment, skills, work organisation," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 89-105.
    22. Anna M. Ponzellini & Giuseppe Della Rocca, 2015. "Continuità e discontinuità nelle esperienze di partecipazione dei lavoratori all'innovazione produttiva. Partecipazione istituzionale e partecipazione diretta," Economia & lavoro, Carocci editore, issue 3, pages 55-66.
    23. Guilherme Luz Tortorella & Diego Fettermann, 2018. "Implementation of Industry 4.0 and lean production in Brazilian manufacturing companies," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(8), pages 2975-2987, April.
    24. Adam Seth Litwin, 2013. "Not Featherbedding, but Feathering the Nest: Human Resource Management and Investments in Information Technology," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(1), pages 22-52, January.
    25. Margherita Russo & Pasquale Pavone & Armanda Cetrulo, 2019. "Conflict and Participation in Bargaining at Company Level: The Lamborghini Case," Economia & lavoro, Carocci editore, issue 1, pages 53-74.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Cetrulo, Armanda & Cirillo, Valeria & Landini, Fabio, 2022. "Organized Labour and R&D: Evidence from Italy," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1195, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    2. repec:osf:socarx:kwxn2_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Valeria Cirillo & José Molero Zayas, 2019. "Digitalizing industry? Labor, technology and work organization: an introduction to the Forum," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 46(3), pages 313-321, September.
    4. CIRILLO Valeria & RINALDINI Matteo & VIRGILLITO Maria Enrica & DIVELLA Marialuisa & MANICARDI Caterina & MASSIMO Francesco Sabato & CETRULO Armanda & COSTANTINI Eleonora & MORO Angelo & STACCIOLI Jaco, 2022. "Case studies of automation in services," JRC Research Reports JRC129691, Joint Research Centre.
    5. Francesca Gabbriellini & Emanuele Leonardi, 2023. "La Just Transition come strategia partecipativa del lavoro: sapere operaio e democrazia economica nella vertenza ex GKN," ECONOMIA E SOCIET? REGIONALE, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2023(3), pages 53-72.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Valeria Cirillo & Matteo Rinaldini & Maria Enrica Virgillito & Maria Luisa Divella & Caterina Manicardi & Francesco Sabato Massimo & Armanda Cetrulo & Eleonora Costantini & Angelo Moro & Jacopo Stacci, 2022. "Case studies of automation in services," Working Papers hal-03899186, HAL.
    2. Angelo Moro & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2022. "Towards Factory 4.0? Convergence and divergence of lean models in Italian automotive plants," International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 22(2), pages 245-271.
    3. Krzywdzinski, Martin, 2021. "Lean Production in Germany: A Contested Model," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, pages 507-528.
    4. Yang Lu, 2025. "The Current Status and Developing Trends of Industry 4.0: a Review," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 27(1), pages 215-234, February.
    5. Guendalina Anzolin, 2021. "Automation and its Employment Effects: A Literature Review of Automotive and Garment Sectors," JRC Working Papers on Labour, Education and Technology 2021-16, Joint Research Centre.
    6. Dorian Aliu & Ayten Akatay & Armando Aliu & Umut Eroglu, 2017. "Public Policy Influences on Academia in the European Union," SAGE Open, , vol. 7(1), pages 21582440176, February.
    7. Cetrulo, Armanda & Cirillo, Valeria & Landini, Fabio, 2022. "Organized Labour and R&D: Evidence from Italy," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1195, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    8. Gillani, Fatima & Chatha, Kamran Ali & Sadiq Jajja, Muhammad Shakeel & Farooq, Sami, 2020. "Implementation of digital manufacturing technologies: Antecedents and consequences," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    9. Tortorella, Guilherme Luz & Saurin, Tarcísio Abreu & Filho, Moacir Godinho & Samson, Daniel & Kumar, Maneesh, 2021. "Bundles of Lean Automation practices and principles and their impact on operational performance," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    10. Sony, Michael & Naik, Subhash, 2020. "Industry 4.0 integration with socio-technical systems theory: A systematic review and proposed theoretical model," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    11. Syed, Jawad, 2008. "An Islamic perspective of industrial relations: the case of Pakistan," MPRA Paper 13684, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Cirillo, Valeria & Rinaldini, Matteo & Staccioli, Jacopo & Virgillito, Maria Enrica, 2021. "Technology vs. workers: the case of Italy’s Industry 4.0 factories," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 166-183.
    13. Nathan Lillie & Ian Greer, 2007. "Industrial Relations, Migration, and Neoliberal Politics: The Case of the European Construction Sector," Politics & Society, , vol. 35(4), pages 551-581, December.
    14. Özköse, Hakan & Güney, Gül, 2023. "The effects of industry 4.0 on productivity: A scientific mapping study," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    15. Addison, John T. & Teixeira, Paulino & Evers, Katalin & Bellmann, Lutz, 2013. "Collective Bargaining and Innovation in Germany: Cooperative Industrial Relations?," IZA Discussion Papers 7871, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    16. John T. Addison & Thorsten Schank & Claus Schnabel & Joachim Wagner, 2007. "Do Works Councils Inhibit Investment?," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 60(2), pages 187-203, January.
    17. Henrik Saabye & Thomas Borup Kristensen & Brian Vejrum Wæhrens, 2020. "Real-Time Data Utilization Barriers to Improving Production Performance: An In-depth Case Study Linking Lean Management and Industry 4.0 from a Learning Organization Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-21, October.
    18. Simon Jäger & Shakked Noy & Benjamin Schoefer, 2022. "What Does Codetermination Do?," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 75(4), pages 857-890, August.
    19. Sumona Mukhuty & Arvind Upadhyay & Holly Rothwell, 2022. "Strategic sustainable development of Industry 4.0 through the lens of social responsibility: The role of human resource practices," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2068-2081, July.
    20. Adam Seth Litwin, 2017. "Collective Bargaining and Technological Investment: The Case of Nurses’ Unions and the Transition from Paper-Based to Electronic Health Records," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 55(4), pages 802-830, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Industry 4.0; Trade Unions; Organisational Change; Corporatism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production
    • L6 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing
    • M54 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Labor Management
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ssa:lemwps:2020/21. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: the person in charge The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask the person in charge to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/labssit.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.