The labour fix: workers and unions within the Green automotive transition

The European automotive industry is undergoing deep restructuring, shaped by overproduction, market saturation and profitability pressures. All precede but intersect with the electric transition. This article argues that current changes reflect structural dynamics of capitalism rather than a shift driven solely by electrification. Focusing on supply chains in Italy and Poland, we present findings from qualitative research based on interviews with workers, trade unionists and managers. Building on Silver’s framework of ‘fixes’ used by capital to restore profitability, we introduce the concept of the labour fix to capture how firms reorganise and segment the workforce to adapt to global transformations. Our analysis shows how different fixes interact, and how the labour fix becomes central in contexts of uncertainty. We further examine how labour may respond in diverse ways, shaped by workers’ position within supply chains and the industrial relations legacies of specific national contexts.