Three general strikes in May, school and transport in focus

May will be a particularly 'hot' month on the workers' protest front, with three general strikes (1, 15-16 and 29 May) and several national protests involving the school and transport sectors in particular. This is an obstacle course for citizens who have to bear in mind, in addition to the general strikes, other dates for stoppages: for schools, 6 and 7 May; 11 May for those who have to catch a plane; 18 May for health care. Local public transport, on the other hand, will be affected by a series of territorially articulated protests throughout the month.

It starts with the national general strike proclaimed by Usi Cit and joined by Cobas Private Work, for the entire day of 1 May, which will therefore affect all public and private categories, with the exclusion of transport and schools. The second general strike (called by Csle) is scheduled for 15 to 16 May: for 48 hours the workers involved in the civil service, ministries, schools of all levels, universities, health, seafarers, railways, metalworkers, VAT holders, petrol station workers, farmers and associations will stop. The third general strike of the month, called by Usi Cit, Cub, Sgb, Adl Varese, Si Cobas and with the adhesion of Usi 1912, will come on 29 May.

Watch out for trains, which will stop from 9 p.m. on 28 until 9 p.m. on 29 May, and motorways, where the protest starts at 10 p.m. on 28 May and ends at 10 p.m. on the 29th.

There are six national strikes proclaimed by trade unions that will involve managerial, teaching and Ata staff in schools of every order and grade, with a focus on technical institutes of all addresses and against the Invalsi tests, for the recovery of teachers' and Ata staff's purchasing power, against the reform of technical institutes and against precarious employment. In Rome, then, there is a second day to mark, that of 12 May, when the staff of crèches and nursery schools affiliated with Roma Capitale will go on strike for the entire day.

 And while 7 May is scheduled for a national strike in maritime transport (from 00.00 to 23.59), 11 May will be a black day for air transport. On that date, not only is Easyjet's united and national strike scheduled, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but also a series of protests articulated at local level, in different sectors, which threaten to put air transport on hold. In fact, employees of airport service and security companies in Cagliari, Enav in Rome and Naples, Adr Security in Fiumicino and handling companies in Palermo will also be on strike. As far as health is concerned, the date to be marked is 18 May when the national strike will involve, again for the whole day, workers in the national health service, social cooperatives, companies and associations in the socio-healthcare-assistance-educational sectors (called by Usi 1912 and Usb private work).