Strike on 30 October: both the public and private sectors are affected. Public transport services will run as normal

The Grassroots Trade Union (UBS) has called for a general strike on Friday 30 October. The action involves all sectors – both public and private – that are taking part. Public transport, however, will not be affected. Demonstrators will take to the streets – mainly in the morning – in over 50 cities, starting with Rome, Milan, Naples and all regional capitals.

Workers in the public sector, services, private companies and other productive sectors who are taking part in the protest are involved in the strike. Disruption is also likely in schools and the health service. Dockworkers are also on strike as part of the international day of protest against arms trafficking and the militarisation of ports – the initiative is said to involve more than 100 ports in 17 different countries.

Train services are guaranteed: Trenord and Trenitalia have announced that trains will run as normal. ATM and public transport operators across the country are also guaranteeing their services. However, there may be some disruption due to staff taking part in the protest. The public transport strike – including air travel – was called off following the Government’s intervention. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has, in fact, issued a compulsory service order on the recommendation of the Guarantee Commission, due to failure to comply with the legally mandated exemption period for public transport during the days set aside for All Souls’ Day – from 30 October to 5 November. The strike, which was due to begin at 9.00 pm on 29 October and end at 8.59 pm on 30 October, has therefore been cancelled.

The reasons for the protest remain the same as for the recent demonstrations: the high cost of living and high energy prices. The USB also opposes spending on rearmament and war in general. “It is time to bring down prices, energy bills, rents and mortgage payments, to raise wages and to say ‘enough is enough’ to war,” the trade union stated.

A series of strikes in the rail sector is scheduled for Monday 9 November. A ‘national strike by all Italo NTV rail staff from 9.01 am to 4.59 pm’ is planned. The announcement was made by Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl, Ugl Ferrovieri, Fast Confsal and Orsa Ferrovie, “following months of negotiations characterised by a succession of meetings, proposals and attempts at mediation, which have resulted in intransigence and a complete lack of response during discussions on the renewal of the collective agreement”.