An article by x331980 about the relief efforts of the Italian anarcho-syndicalist union, the USI, in response to the August and October 2017 Central Italy earthquakes. Originally appeared in the Industrial Worker (Winter 2017).
The IWW’s sister union in Italy, USI (Unione Sindacale Italiana), has been assisting with relief projects following destructive earthquakes in August and again in October of last year. Four earthquakes struck the mountainous spine of Italy northeast of Rome with magnitudes 5.5 to 6.6. Over 300 were killed, many more were injured, and villages and small towns were devastated. Many refugees are still living in tent cities; some of the ancient towns may never be rebuilt, according to the government.
USI locals in Modena, Parma, Rome, and Macerata immediately began to collect money and loaded vans with food and clothing to take into Arquata del Tronto and the mountain hamlet of Illica, medieval towns largely reduced to rubble by August’s magnitude 6.2 temblor. Over time, the entire union participated. After the first earthquake, building materials were collected to construct a self-managed refugee village, but this project had to be halted following the three quakes in October.
USI sources told the Industrial Worker that some union members lost their homes in the earthquakes, and others have lost theirs following the regional economic collapse, due to destruction and depopulation. The present phase of relief focuses on building shelters for residents who have farm animals and are unwilling to leave the area. Food, gas, and phone cards are still being brought in by our USI comrades, but with the onset of winter more people have left the devastated area. The union is collaborating with Genuino Clandestino, an association of farmers and self-sufficiency activists.
USI is building on experience gained in 2009 and again in 2012, when they assisted with relief following earthquakes that did horrible damage in L’Aquila and Emilia.
USI is the Italian affiliate of the anarcho-syndicalist AIT, a revolutionary union confederation with members around the world. USI reports it has around 800 members. It is chiefly organized in the health, education, and civil service industries, as well as some cooperatives. There are a number of active sections in Emilia Romagna (north-central Italy) and the adjacent regions of Lombardy and Tuscany. Smaller groups are scattered around the country.
USI locals are equipping to help themselves and others when disasters strike. They are collecting tents, supplies for field kitchens, and a van to deliver material aid. They have used concerts and other events to raise emergency funds. At their last business meeting, the San Francisco Bay Area GMB voted to approve sending USI $500 as a sign of solidarity and for USI’s earthquake war chest. Send email to [email protected] for how to provide assistance to USI.
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