Today the general strike called by the CGIL: stop trains and schools, healthcare at risk
Demonstrations and blockades in many regions to protest against the budget law, with widespread disruptions in trains, public transport and health services.
by M.Mor.
Key points
Today, schools, transport and health services will be at risk due to the general strike called by the CGIL for the entire working day (except air transport, Ministry of Justice personnel, environmental hygiene). There will be demonstrations, garrisons and rallies in all regions. The main one will take place in Florence starting at 9 a.m., where the general secretary of the CGIL, Maurizio Landini, will be present. The agitation has been called to protest against a budget law that the CGIL defines as 'unfair and harmful for workers, pensioners and young people'.
Thousands of people will converge on the Tuscan capital: about 80 buses organised by the union, plus private vehicles. The CGIL Toscana hopes that the national leaders of the centre-left will also be there. Nicola Fratoianni and Angelo Bonelli of Avs have already given their confirmation. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini says: 'It is irresponsible to block the country with yet another general strike at a delicate moment. As it happens, out of 24 general strikes, 17 were proclaimed on a Friday'.
Railways and Tpl
It is shaping up to be a black Friday for those who might have to put on train travel, due to the mobilisation of the sector by all personnel, which will stop until 9 p.m. on 12 December. Trenitalia (Fs), Italo and Trenord will provide some guaranteed trains as usual. For Trenitalia, Trenitalia Tper and Trenord regional transport, the essential services envisaged in the event of a strike are guaranteed on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The FS group points out that the effects of the protest, in terms of cancellations and delays, may occur even earlier and extend beyond the end time of the trade union agitation. In Veneto, Rfi personnel - infrastructure maintenance - of the southern and northern territorial unit Doit Verona will strike for 8 hours from 9.01 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday 12 December. The mobilisation has been proclaimed by Osr Orsa Ferrovie, Slm-Fast-Confsal.
As regards buses, trams and metros, the national adhesion has been confirmed by the CGIL, but the concrete application of the strike changes according to individual territories. The only exception is Rome, where Atac staff will not take part, having already been involved in a previous protest (Tuesday 9 December).
In Milan, the Atm has declared that connections may not be guaranteed from 8.45 a.m. to 3 p.m. The same applies to Venice: Actv will guarantee the minimum navigation services and some ferry boat runs, while for the car and tram service all runs will be guaranteed from 6 a.m. to 8.59 a.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 7.29 p.m. The same applies to the city of Turin, where Gtt (Gruppo Torinese Trasporti) has provided guarantee bands from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 12 noon to 3 p.m. for the urban-suburban service, the underground, customer assistants and customer service centre staff. For the suburban service and the cooperative bus service Line 3971 (Ciriè-Ceres route) vehicles will run from the start of service until 8 a.m. and from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
