Public transport could also be affected in Rome. Photo: Dario Argenti / Shutterstock Italy is preparing for two days of possible disruptions to public transport, starting tomorrow, Thursday, October 29, and continuing until Friday, October
What began as a declaration of a general strike turned into a political and legal confrontation between the government and labor unions, after the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Matteo Salvini, signed a decree intended to postpone strikes in the transportation sector.
The government order was intended to protect freedom of movement ahead of the period of restrictions on strikes around All Souls' Day, which falls in Italy on November 2.
However, the USB workers' union announced that it rejected the decision and intended to continue the strike despite possible sanctions. At the same time, transport companies published notices about the services that could be affected and the protected operating hours.
The railway system is expected to be one of the main areas of disruption. According to announcements from Italian railway companies, the national strike is scheduled to begin tomorrow, Thursday, at 9:00 PM and end on Friday at 8:59 PM.
The strike affects employees of the state-owned railway group FS Italiane, the high-speed train company Italo and the regional train company Trenord. As a result, cancellations, delays and changes to the timetables of high-speed, intercity and regional trains may occur.
Alongside the national strike, the government strike schedule also includes a separate regional strike by Trenitalia workers in the Bologna, Rimini and Reggio Emilia areas, scheduled to begin today, October 28, at 9:00 PM and end tomorrow at 9:00 PM.
Train companies are operating essential services in accordance with guaranteed service arrangements, but passengers are asked to check the status of their specific train before leaving for the station. Disruptions may affect service both before the official strike begins and after it ends.
The aviation industry is also bracing for possible disruptions on Friday. According to the Italian transport ministry's strike schedule, workers at Toscana Aeroporti, GH Toscana and other companies operating at Pisa and Florence airports are expected to strike for 24 hours, from midnight to 11:59 p.m.
The strike could affect ground services, baggage handling and flight operations, but it does not mean that all flights will be canceled. The actual extent of disruption depends on employee participation and decisions by airlines and airport operators. Passengers planning to fly on Friday are asked to monitor airline and airport announcements and check flight status before leaving for the airport.
In Rome, the public transport company ATAC has issued an official notice of a planned 24-hour strike on Friday, October 30. According to the notice, the strike is expected to affect metro lines, buses and trams, as well as services operated by other transport companies in the city.
The company has published the guaranteed service hours, from the start of operations in the morning until 08:29 and from 17:00 to 19:59. Outside these hours, service is not guaranteed and cancellations and disruptions may occur. Night lines may also be affected by the strike.
The ATAC announcement does not confirm that the strike has been canceled, and therefore there is no basis at this stage to ensure normal operation of public transportation in the capital.
The strike planned for Friday, October 30, also includes the taxi industry.
According to the Italian Ministry of Transport's strike schedule, taxi drivers are expected to strike from 00:01 to 23:59. This could lead to disruptions in taxi availability and long waiting times, especially at airports, train stations and tourist attractions. The extent of the actual disruption will depend on the drivers' response to the strike.
The expected disruptions are the result of a bitter conflict between the Italian Ministry of Transport and labor unions. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini signed an order to postpone the strike in various transport sectors, including trains, aviation, local public transport, taxis and maritime transport. The decision was made in light of the restrictions on strikes in the period surrounding Memorial Day.
However, the USB union announced that the order was illegal, and declared that they intended to continue the strike even at the cost of heavy fines. This turned the struggle over working conditions and the general protest into a test of the government's authority versus the right to strike.
The conflict is still unresolved. While the government is trying to minimize the disruption to transport services, the unions insist on continuing the protest. For millions of passengers and tourists, the immediate meaning is uncertainty heading into the weekend, and the need to stay up-to-date with official announcements before each trip.
Passengers and tourists are advised to regularly check the official websites of the relevant transportation and train companies, and monitor changes in schedules. Passengers on flights are advised to check the status of their flight directly with the airline and airport, even if no cancellation or delay notification has been received.