Unions call general strike in solidarity with Gaza aid flotilla however Italy’s strike watchdog says the protest is unlawful.
Italian trade unions have called a national general strike on Friday 3 October in protest after Israel intercepted a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The strike has been called by Italy’s biggest union, CGIL, as well as by the USB and other small unions, in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Italy’s strike watchdog warned on Thursday however that the strike was unlawful as it violated the requirement of notice.
The industrial action is set to affect both the public and private sector, CGIL said, and is set to disrupt Italy’s schools, healthcare and transport sectors, including rail and air travel, as well as public administration, offices and factories.
“The aggression against civilian ships carrying Italian citizens is an extremely serious matter,” the CGIL union said, while the USB stated: “We cannot remain silent in the face of an attack that tramples on democratic values and human dignity. It’s time to react, now.”
As required by law, essential services will be guaranteed.
As of late Thursday afternoon, the following public transport sectors were set to be affected:
Rail travel
The strike will affect rail services across the country from 21.00 on Thursday 2 October until the same time on Friday 3 October.
Trenitalia said its rail services could face “cancellations or changes”, and published a list of guaranteed medium- and long-distance train journeys, with travel information also available for each region.
Trenord – which operates rail services in the northern Lombardia region around Milan – said that in the event of airport trains being cancelled, direct buses to Malpensa will be set up to and from Milan Cadorna and Stabio.
Essential regional train services are guaranteed in Italy during strikes on weekdays from 06.00 to 09.00 and from 18.00 to 21.00.
Air travel
The national strike also involves air travel, with some flights at risk of delays and cancellations due to a 24-hour protest scheduled from 00.01 to 00.59 on Friday.
The Italian civil aviation authority ENAC reminds air travellers that during strikes in Italy flights are guaranteed from 07.00-10.00 and 18.00-21.00.
Local public transport
The industrial action is set to disrupt local public transport networks in Rome, Milan and other Italian cities on Friday, with timetables of guaranteed services varying from city to city.
In Rome the strike will affect buses, subways and trams, with services guaranteed up until 08.30 and from 17.00-20.00, according to the capital’s mobility website.
People flying in or out of Rome should note that rail connections to and from Fiumicino airport may experience delays or cancellations as a result of the strike.
Public services
The strike could also affect kindergartens, schools, health facilities and tollbooth services on motorways.
From a healthcare point of view, the strike will not affect emergency services or essential operations, however non-urgent visits and scheduled tests could be postponed.
Government reaction
Italian premier Giorgia Meloni on Thursday once again slammed the Global Sumud Flotilla and the unions’ decision to call a general strike.
“The flotilla has brought no benefits for the Palestinian people” – Meloni told reporters – “On the other hand, it seems to me that it will bring many inconveniences to the Italian people”.
“I wouldn’t have expected the unions to have called a general strike on a Friday, at least on an issue they consider as important as Gaza”, Meloni said, adding: “A long weekend and the revolution do not go together”.
Meloni reiterated that her government would do what it can to assist the Italian citizens involved in the flotilla who have been detained by Israel.
She also asserted that Italy is the “non-Muslim nation that has evacuated the most people from Gaza for treatment in our hospitals, and we are one of the top nations in the world for aid deliveries”.
Defence minister Guido Crosetto also criticised the new wave of protests that has broken out in Italy since Israeli forces began to intercept the flotilla boats on Wednesday evening.
“Does anyone really believe that the blockade of a station, an airport, a highway, or the destruction of a store in Italy will bring relief to the Palestinian people?” – Crosetto asked – “Or that will it change the choices of another nation’s government? It won’t.”
“Burning everything down, stopping everything, scaring everyone, serves no one and will only hurt all the Italian people”, Crosetto added.
Transport minister Matteo Salvini was actively considering ordering an injunction to block the strike, writing on X: “We will not allow the CGIL and left-wing extremists to bring chaos to Italy. We will not tolerate any sudden general strike.”
“Occupying an airport runway, causing problems and disruptions to workers and travellers, has nothing to do with the situation in Gaza” – Salvini wrote on X on Thursday – “These are not pacifists, but hoodlums”.
For official strike information and updates see the transport ministry website.
Photo credit: Antonello Marangi / Shutterstock.com.
