ABSTRACT:This article focuses on a particular aspect of the evolution of the Italian trade unions, that is the problems faced by them in dealing with the political institutions and structures, or, in other words, the political system.We consider this period from the mid‘70s to the early 80s, because it represents the culmination of a gradual development in both unions and institutions during the previous years, and the resulting problems that evolved in the interaction between them and the political institutions. We look at how the unions’political action was modified during this lapse of time, and draw some conclusions about the unions resulting political r