Strikes: record 51 per month in 2024, new transport black day on 10 January

In 2024, 1,603 strikes were proclaimed, 981 called off, for a total of 622 mobilisations, a little more than one and a half a day or 51 a month. In January next year, 45 strikes are already planned, with 10 January already shaping up to be a black day for transport: trains are expected to be at risk with the 24-hour national strike of Rfi workers, while the Tpl will have to reckon with the 4-hour national strike of local public transport workers. And it cannot be ruled out that the tug-of-war between unions and the government will be back on track, with Transport Minister Matteo Salvini ready for new preconditions as happened in recent months.

According to the figures of the Strike Authority, 2024 was a new record year for the number of days on which workers crossed their arms in order to strike, with an increase in the number of strike days compared to 2023 (when 1,647 strikes were announced and 1,064 were called off, making a total of 583, about 48 per month): in fact, 1,603 strikes were called this year, 981 were called off, making a total of 622 mobilisations, or 51 strikes per month. The year 2024 was also marked by the escalation of the trade union-government clash, the protagonist for the latter being the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Matteo Salvini, because it is precisely on transport that the confrontation has become tough, with injunctions and related appeals to the Tar. In particular, the rail transport strike of 19 and 20 May, the general mobilisation of 29 November and that of 13 December (preceptions later cancelled by the Tar) were precepted. In 2024, the Tpl also recorded the first 24-hour strike without a guarantee band in 20 years.

However, clashes and preceptions do not seem to have softened the square: in the calendar of the Strike Supervisor, for the month of January there are already 45 strikes scheduled, excluding those that have been called off. And transport remains the protagonist of the protest, and therefore of the pre-announced inconveniences. For those who have to travel by sea, the date to mark is 8 January when the Neapolitan tugboat operators will go on strike (from 12 noon on 8 January to 12 noon on 9 January), and the workers of Caronte & Tourist minor islands and Siremar. 10 January promises to be a black day for transport. Trains will be at risk with the 24-hour national strike of Rfi workers, while the Tpl will be on strike with the 4-hour national strike of local public transport workers. Also on strike will be the workers of Ferrovie della Calabria from 11.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., those of the railway transport of Florence and province from 9 a.m. to 4.59 p.m. and Trenitalia Abruzzo from 9 a.m. to 4.59 p.m. On the air transport front, handlers, Sea spa and cleaning workers will also strike on the same day.

The obstacle course on the railways continues on 21 January with the strike of the Appulo Lucale railways from 3.40 p.m. to 7.39 p.m. and of Ferrovie del Sud-Est (Bari, Taranto and Lecce) from 3.40 p.m. to 7.39 p.m.; and 25 and 26 January with the 24-hour national multi-sector strike of workers of companies carrying out railway activities, from 9 p.m. on 25/01 to 8.59 p.m. But also the local Tpl will have its days off: in Vercelli and Biella on 21 January (from 8.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to end of service); on 26 January in Genoa Amt workers will strike (suburban service from 10.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. for travelling personnel and from 10.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for ticket office staff); on 31 January Atm group workers in Milan, Monza and Brianza will strike.