Industrial action and working conditions in a green field site: the case of the FIAT-SATA assembly plant in southern Italy

This article analyses working conditions in the case of the Societa Automobilistica Tecnologia Avanzata (FIAT-SATA) assembly plant in southern Italy. It starts by reconstructing the reasons for building the new assembly plant in Melfi and the principles of the models of work organisation called 'integrated factory' and 'modular factory'. The analysis of working conditions is developed beginning from the reconstruction of the characteristics of the factory and of the organisational model. The research conducted noted the relationship between working conditions and the health risks that involve a large number of 'Workers with Reduced Work Capacity'. The article underlines the relationship between working conditions and industrial relations. Factory-level bargaining is analysed, from the participative model to the long strike of Spring 2004 with important implications for the improvement of working conditions.