Rail Strike Paralyzes Transport Across Italy as Workers Demand Better Pay and Conditions

By Staff, Agencies

Commuters across Italy faced major disruptions on Friday due to a nationwide railway workers' strike, with unions calling for wage increases and improved health and safety standards.

The strike, organized by the Unione Sindacato di Base [USB] and the Sindacato Generale di Base [SGB], began at 1 a.m. local time and is set to continue until 11:59 p.m., lasting a total of 23 hours.

The unions are demanding the renewal of the national collective labor agreement for railway workers, which they argue is long overdue. They also seek salary adjustments that reflect current inflation levels and stronger safety measures in the workplace.

Separately, employees of the state-run railway company, Ferrovie dello Stato, launched an eight-hour strike from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, maintenance workers are not participating, having staged their own walkout earlier on April 11.

The strike has caused widespread delays and cancellations at key stations, including Rome’s central Termini station, where trains were delayed by up to 90 minutes. Trenitalia, the national rail operator, confirmed the disruptions and announced that passengers are eligible for ticket refunds or changes, depending on availability.

While many services have been halted, Trenitalia noted that some short-distance routes, particularly those during peak commuting hours, would still be guaranteed.

Originally, the unions had planned to strike on May 17 but agreed to postpone the action so as not to interfere with the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, an event expected to draw large crowds to the Vatican.

Union representatives emphasized that this latest strike is part of a broader campaign that has been ongoing for over a year and a half, focused on renewing the collective labor contract, raising wages that have stagnated for two decades, and enhancing workplace safety.