Air transport, strikes on 16 February and 7 March: Guarantor calls for postponement, trade unions go ahead, Salvini ready for precepts

The Guarantee Commission has called on the unions to postpone to other dates the two strikes scheduled for 16 February and 7 March in the aviation sector, because they are taking place at the same time as the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics. Sharing the Garanti's initiative, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, summoned the trade unions for Friday, saying he was ready - in the event of a 'no' to the postponement - to resort to preceptorship.

But the unions have informally let it be known that they do not intend to back down: 'We have called the strike for Ita Airways and easyJet in compliance with the regulations on strikes,' explains Fabrizio Cuscito (Filt-Cgil). Negotiating tables have been ongoing for months without any progress. In this scenario, unfortunately, we have no choice but to go back on strike to push both companies to renew the expired contracts'. Ivan Viglietti (Uilt) points out that 'these are not political strikes, but strikes called to demand the renewal of expired contracts. If they want to avoid them, the companies must commit to renewing contracts and Minister Salvini can use moral suasion to push the companies to renew'.

In its resolution, the Strike Guarantee Commission reported to the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport the 'real danger of prejudice to freedom of movement on the occasion of the air transport mobilisations proclaimed for 16 February and 7 March'. These dates were considered critical by the Authority because of the overlap with the Winter Olympic Games (taking place from 6 to 22 February) and the Paralympic Winter Games (from 6 to 15 March) for Milan-Cortina 2026. In order to ensure a 'fair balance between the exercise of the right to strike and the smooth running of the Olympic event', the Guarantors appeal to the 'sense of responsibility of the trade unions', so that the protests are fixed at another date.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini explained that he agrees with what the Guarantee Commission says about the postponement of the strike: "We will convene them on Friday," he said, "if they say 'no' to the postponement, we will intervene as the law provides, with precepts. With the Olympics we give an image of efficiency, we cannot block citizens and athletes'.

In the strike calendar published on the MIT website on 16 February, several national work stoppages are planned. A strike of Ita airways staff (from 0.01 to 24) has been called by Filt-Cgil, Fit-Cisl, Uilt, Ugl, Anpac and Anp, the same unions for the same time frame have called a strike of easyJet pilots and flight attendants. Cub trasporti on 16 February called a 24-hour strike of workers in the aviation sector, airport companies and allied industries, and a 4-hour strike of Vueling flight personnel (from 11.30 am to 3.30 pm). On the same day for 4 hours (from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm) Usb has called for a strike of easyJet flight personnel and Ita Airways ground and flight personnel. Cub trasporti has also called for a 24-hour stoppage of the workers of the Alha company of Milan Malpensa Airport and the Airport handling of Milan Linate and Malpensa. Filt and Anpac have also proclaimed a 24-hour strike of Vueling flight attendants.