Witness History
Witness History
'Hot Autumn': When Italy’s workers revolted
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February 13, 2023
11 minutes
Available for over a year
In 1969 and 1970, thousands of workers in Italy went on strike, protesting against low pay and poor working conditions. It became known as the ‘Hot Autumn’.
Renzo Baricelli represented tyre workers at the Pirelli rubber factory in Milan, one of the main centres of protest.
He tells Vicky Farncombe how he had to step in when angry workers with hammers were threatening to smash up the factory.
(Photo: Workers protesting in Milan during the 'Hot Autumn'. Credit: Getty Images)