Holidaymakers heading to Italy this weekend are warned they may have their travel plans disrupted by a nationwide general strike.
On Friday, 28 November, a 24-hour walkout staged by workers in both public and private sectors is set to impact airports, long-distance trains, local transport, ferries and other transport links.
Though flights are not explicitly included in the strike, with Italy’s airports expected to run as normal, some air links may run on reduced timetables – or be cancelled entirely.
Travellers arriving into the country by air may find their rail connections affected by altered timetables, and those connecting to airports by train should leave extra time in case services are cancelled or rescheduled.
Grassroots organisations, such as Cobas, Usb and Cub, have encouraged widespread participation in the mass strike, which has been called to protest the Italian government’s budget plans.
Unions have cited that staffing shortages, rising living costs, and stalled negotiations have placed significant strain on schools, hospitals, and other critical services.
This week’s demonstration is said to advocate for increased funding for critical sectors like health and education, alongside a reduction in military spending, according to Euronews.
It comes after Italy’s largest union, CGIL, called for a 21-hour general strike on 12 December that aims to heavily affect long-distance and high-speed rail services across the country.
A 24-hour walkout across Italy on Friday, 28 November, is set to affect rail services, local transport, ferries and other transport links (pictured: a train station in Florence)
A 21-hour strike is planned for mid-December, which the Italy’s largest union, CGIL, believes will heavily affect long-distance and high-speed rail services
Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, accused union members of looking for a long weekend on a scathing post on X
In response to the planned walkout, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took to X in November and accused unions of looking for a long weekend.
She wrote in the post: ‘New general strike by the CGIL against the Government announced by General Secretary Landini. On which day of the week will December 12 fall?’
On railways, passengers who have pre-booked long-distance tickets affected by cancellations are able to request a full refund or request to be moved to an equivalent service.
In the days leading up to a strike, operators across the country typically publish updated timetables and guaranteed service lists, so it’s worth checking online before finalising travel plans.
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