General Confederation of Labour

The General Italian Confederation of Labour (CGIL) is Italy's largest trade union federation. It was established in Rome in 1944, succeeding the Fascist syndicates. Initially intended as a non-partisan organization, internal divisions led to the departure of Christian Democrats and socialists, who formed separate unions. This left the CGIL largely under communist influence, though it retained a socialist minority. Despite these defections, the CGIL remained the most powerful Italian labor federation, representing millions of workers, particularly in heavy industry and agriculture. It maintained close ties with the Italian Communist Party and was affiliated with the World Federation of Trade Unions. The Italian Labour Union (UIL) was founded in 1950 in opposition to the CGIL.12