Italy strikes in October. Photo: Dario Argenti / Shutterstock The upcoming month of October brings with it a wave of strikes across Italy, some national and others local, which could affect trains, flights, the metro, buses, and airport services.
The justice system and the health system are also joining the protest for several days, so it's not just tourists who need to pay attention to the strike schedule, but also anyone who is in the midst of a legal proceeding or needs medical services in the country. These are the key dates you should know before you set off.
The month began on October 2 with a nationwide multi-sector strike. For passengers, the most noticeable impact will be on trains, where a three-hour strike has been declared between 11:00 and 14:00. There is currently no national aviation strike scheduled for that day. Maritime transport is also included in the announcement, but exact times for all services have not yet been announced.
The strike is also expected to be felt in the healthcare system: doctor visits, tests and planned medical activities may be postponed or canceled, depending on the level of participation in each institution, while emergency services and essential medical treatments will continue to operate.
A day later, on October 3, a 24-hour strike is expected by employees of AMT, Genoa's public transport company, which operates buses and other transport services in the city.
Between October 5 and 7, the protest also extends to the judicial system, with a nationwide abstention from judicial activity by judges, including non-regular judges. For those in the midst of legal proceedings in Italy during this period, this could mean postponed hearings, changed deadlines, and delays in handling cases.
This may also be relevant to foreigners conducting legal proceedings in the country related to citizenship, personal status, marriage and other civil matters. Anyone who has received a summons, has scheduled a hearing or is awaiting a decision in a case during this period should check in advance with their lawyer or the court whether the deadline has remained unchanged.
Later this month, the strikes will shift to some of the country's main tourist destinations. On October 8, employees of FS Security, the security company of the Italian railway group, declared a 24-hour strike in Sicily. This is not a general strike of train drivers or all railway workers on the island, so it does not mean that all trains in Sicily will be stopped.
On October 9, it will be Milan's turn, with strikes by ATM, Milan's public transport company, which operates the metro, trams and buses in the city. On October 10, a 24-hour strike by GEST, the company that operates Florence's tram, is expected. This strike is also significant for tourists arriving by plane, as the tram connects the airport to the center of Florence.
A strike by RFI workers in Sicily is expected from 9:01 PM on October 12 to 9:00 PM on October 13. RFI manages Italy's railway infrastructure, including tracks, stations, and operating systems, so this is a railway infrastructure strike, not a general strike affecting all trains in Sicily.
One day to be especially careful is October 14, when a regional general strike is expected in Tuscany. Trains in the region are expected to be on strike between 09:01 and 17:00, along with work stoppages in some local public transport services and other rail-related services. The aviation sector has been excluded from this strike.
For travelers planning to travel between Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Siena and other destinations in Tuscany on the same day, it is recommended to check the specific train in advance and not rely solely on the regular schedule. The following day, on October 15, a 24-hour strike by ATAF workers, the operator of public transport services in Foggia, is expected.
In aviation, the most prominent date is October 16. easyJet flight crews in Italy have announced a 24-hour strike, from midnight to 11:59 p.m., which could lead to changes in flight schedules and even delays or cancellations.
easyJet. Photo: SNEHIT PHOTO / Shutterstock.comA 24-hour strike by employees of Sicuritalia IVRI, a company that provides security and other services at Venice Marco Polo Airport, is also expected on the same day. The strike could cause some airport services to slow down, create queues and cause delays in various processes at the airport. Passengers are advised to arrive with more time than usual and to follow airline and airport announcements closer to the time.
On the same day, firefighters are also joining the protest, with a nationwide strike scheduled between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Essential emergency services will continue to operate during the strike, but even so, perhaps the daring culinary experiments should be left for another day.
Naples is also joining the strike map on the same day. Workers at EAV, the regional transport company for the Campania region in southern Italy, where Naples is located, are expected to strike between 7:30 PM and 11:30 PM.
The company operates, among other things, suburban trains and lines connecting Naples with major destinations in the region, including train lines to Pompeii and Sorrento. Therefore, anyone planning to travel in the area in the evening should check their specific line before leaving.
Towards the end of the month, on October 30, a nationwide general strike is expected in the public and private sectors. However, for tourists, there is a particularly important detail here: according to the current announcement, the sectors of aviation, railways, local public transport and maritime transport are excluded from it. So, although this is a general strike, the entire transportation system in Italy is not expected to stop.
Before you set off, remember that the strike schedule in Italy is dynamic and may change at short notice. Strikes can be added, postponed, shortened, or canceled, and shutdown hours may also change. Therefore, we recommend checking the official websites of the Ministry of Transport, railway companies, airlines, and local transport operators close to the date of travel, and double-checking the service status on the day of travel.
As of September 28, these are the main strikes that have already been announced for October, and additional dates may be added to the schedule later.