Produttività

This essay explores the central role that productivity has played in the cultural and strategic orientation of the Italian trade union Cisl since its foundation. It highlights the union’s innovative approach in the post-war Italian context, framing productivity not as a tool of exploitation but as a means to improve workers’ living conditions through active participation, workplace-level bargaining, and continuous education. The analysis traces how Cisl’s "productivist" perspective aimed to align economic efficiency with social justice, fostering a collaborative model of industrial relations. The essay also emphasizes the union’s foresight in anticipating key themes of modern corporate social responsibility. Ultimately, Cisl’s approach to productivity is presented as a broader cultural and political project—one that seeks to integrate technical advancement with human development, and to shape a more democratic, inclusive, and sustainable model of economic growth.