ABSTRACT
Migration chains, ethnic organisational ability and the labour supply all concur to explain different occupational outcomes amongst the various national groups and their insertion into the different niches in the job market. The attitude of the Italian trade unions toward immigration has developed within a context which is completely different from that of other countries. Chilean and Argentine political refugees done ultimately a solidaristic action that had little to do with the traditional activities of the trade unions and that had even less to do with European Union ideology relating to immigration. It is mostly within the local contexts where trade unions are traditionally deep-rooted and strong that immigrant worker participation in the trade unions is rather high. Immigrants ask trade unions for protection and support, and they seldom become activists or assume militant attitudes. Trade unions are often confused with other institutions and service agencies, such as local and voluntary service organisations.
