A few days ago (on September 27th, editor’s note), Italy enacted a summer franchise that suspends union strikes in the country’s transportation sector. This franchise also applies to other transportation sectors. However, in Europe, there is no such franchise, and each country has its own laws and regulations, which may result in scattered strikes causing some disruptions. Of particular concern are potential strikes affecting France (air traffic controllers), Spain (flight personnel), Germany (railway workers), and the United Kingdom (ground staff and handling), as announced by Eurocontrol a few weeks ago.
In September, union mobilizations will resume, and the schedule is causing some concern for those who have travel plans during that period.
Air Transport Strikes The first date to mark in red is September 8th: just three days after the end of the franchise, a national strike of all workers in the aviation sector has been scheduled for 24 hours.
Only eight days later, on September 16th, Enav workers, including air traffic controllers, will go on an 8-hour strike from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. The strike is organized by Filt Cgil and Uiltrasporti.
Another significant strike is planned for September 29th (from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm) involving the staff of BGY International Services at Bergamo-Orio Al Serio Airport, responsible for ground services.
Additionally, further strikes in the low-cost sector are likely, with some mobilizations by Italian unions that may be announced in the coming weeks.
Local Rail Transport Strikes Just a week ago, Claudio Tarlazzi, the general secretary of Uiltrasporti, reignited mobilizations, highlighting how companies and employers are essentially avoiding negotiations with the unions. “In these days, meetings and negotiations are ongoing, but the situation is not improving. For example, Italo-Ntv and Assohandlers continue to reject the wage adjustments we are requesting, and even with Trenitalia, discussions remain slow and unconstructive,” reiterated the union leader. “In this situation, we will be forced to announce more strikes starting from September.”
While waiting to learn the dates for a likely new national railway strike (rumored to be on September 19th, but without official confirmation yet), let’s take a look at the mobilizations already scheduled for public transport.
On September 6th, there will be a 23-hour regional strike for Trenord workers (from 3:00 am on September 6th until 2:00 am the next day).
On September 15th, the workers of Ataf in Foggia’s public transport sector will stage a 4-hour protest (from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm). Furthermore, on September 18th, there will be a 24-hour nationwide strike by public transport personnel.
Travelers and commuters should be aware of these strikes and plan their journeys accordingly. Please keep an eye on updates from transportation companies and authorities to stay informed about potential disruptions during these strike dates.
