Trade unions threaten strike for Ita Airways and demand extension of Cigs for 2,000 former Alitalia workers

Air transport unions are threatening to strike at Ita Airways, complaining that the 2026-2030 business plan is too cautious on the development investment side. In a letter sent to the shareholders - Mef and Lufthansa - Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl, Uiltrasporti, Ugl Ta, Anpac and Anp after the meeting with the company's top management announced the activation of the cooling and conciliation procedures provided for by the law on strikes in essential services.

A first critical issue, according to the unions, is to be traced back to the industrial plan approved on 30 July by the Board of Directors: 'an industrial project that envisages a fleet of 100 aircraft by 2030 cannot be defined as one of growth, given that this number is comparable to that already in force today, net of the downtime generated by the well-known technical problems of some models'. According to the trade unions, this 'lack of commitment in terms of fleet growth and consequent network development has a direct negative impact on the future of the company, on the professional development of the crew and ground staff, and on the recovery in production of the workers of the Alitalia Group under administration'. Another reason for discontent is related to the Collective Bargaining Agreement that expired in December 2024 and has not yet been renewed.

The trade unions call for a 'bolder and more ambitious growth plan, consistent with the strong growth of the market', with 'more investment in the fleet by the shareholders', to 'increase and speed up the acquisition of more new machines than in the plan'.

The company pointed out that the plan envisages an increase of 1 long-haul aircraft per year from 2026 to 2030, and that the increase in headcount from 2026 will be closely linked to the evolution of the company's fleet and network. The Plan envisages growth especially in the long-haul sector and the expansion of intercontinental destinations departing from the Rome Fiumicino hub. At the end of the plan period, the fleet will consist almost entirely of new-generation aircraft.

For the unions, the 'prudence' on fleet renewal also has repercussions on the increase in the workforce, and has an impact on the re-absorption of part of the former Alitalia staff, on which a meeting was held at the Ministry of Labour on Monday 8 September. For 1,997 workers, the extraordinary redundancy fund will end on 31 October next (of which about 70 are temporary employees). This group of workers has been receiving social security benefits for about four years, yet 50 per cent of them are in the 45-60 age bracket, thus far from possible retirement. 'We have asked for an ano extension of the Cigs,' explained Ivan Viglietti (Uilt), 'and for pressure from the Ministry of Labour so that the employees in Cigs are hired in the companies that have taken over Alitalia's assets, or in any case are involved in active employment policies. The meeting was adjourned to 18 September.