The author, starting from the recent sentence of the Italian Constitutional Court No. 52/2023, retraces considerations of the doctrine on the subject of “proximity collective agreements” regulated by Article 8 of Law No. 148 of 2011, with specific reference to the work of Riccardo Del Punta. The focus is on the 2012 essay “Cronache da una transizione confusa (su art. 8, l. n. 148/2011, e dintorni)”, which, although dating back to the time of the introduction of the rule and, therefore, written in a different context from today, is extremely topical. The reading of Del Punta's essay and, specifically, the “collettive effort” he wishes for in supporting the already mentioned art. 8, lead the author to outline the nature of exceptionality of the norm at the temporal level as well, consequently hypothizing its constitutional, although transitory, legitimacy and limiting the relevance of trade unions’ representativeness at the national level.