A coalition of base unions has called a 24-hour general strike against military spending, precarious work, and the war in Gaza. There will be knock-on effects for rail, metro and bus passengers from Thursday evening.
Travellers across Italy face significant disruption to public transport on Friday 29 May after a coalition of trade unions — CUB, SGB (Sindacato Generale di Base), ADL Varese, SI Cobas and USI Cit — proclaimed a 24-hour general strike. The action spans railways, urban metro networks, buses and funiculars, with some services affected from Thursday evening.
Trains
The railway workers’ stoppage runs from 21.00 on Thursday 28 May until 21.00 on Friday 29 May and covers staff of Gruppo FS Italiane (including Trenitalia and Trenitalia Tper), Italo and Trenord. The action affects high-speed, long-distance and regional rail services and may, according to Gruppo FS Italiane, lead to changes to services before and after the official strike window.
Under Italian law, a minimum level of service is guaranteed during strikes on essential public services. Passengers are advised to check the list of protected trains on the Trenitalia website before travelling.
Rome and Milan
In Rome, the strike covers the entire ATAC network — metro, tram, bus and rail-substitute services — along with affiliated bus routes operated by subcontracted companies. Services are guaranteed during two legally protected windows: from the start of service until 08.29, and from 17.00 until 19.59. Outside these hours, the full surface and underground network may be suspended.
During the night of 28–29 May, certain night bus lines are not guaranteed. During the following night of 29–30 May, regular night bus lines (those beginning with “N”) will run normally. Ticket offices at stations may be closed during the strike; online sales will continue uninterrupted, and payment on board or at station machines by card will remain possible.
ATM services in Milan may not be guaranteed between 08.45 and 15.00, and again from 18.00 until the end of service. The Como–Brunate funicular may be affected between 08.30 and 16.30 and after 19.30.
Also read: Guide to strikes in Italy
Why the strike?
The unions have called the action on a broad platform of grievances: opposition to the war and rising military expenditure; against workplace exploitation, precarious employment and inadequate pay in both the public and private sectors; against the ongoing situation in Gaza and the supply of arms to Israel; against the absence of social policies including on the housing emergency; against what the unions describe as repressive security decrees and restrictions on the right to strike; and against workplace deaths and the lack of industrial policy.
Travellers are advised to check the website of their local transport operator and Trenitalia for updated information on guaranteed services before travelling on Friday. The official national strike calendar is available at the transport ministry website: scioperi.mit.gov.it.
