by InTrieste
On Friday, October 18, Italy’s public transport system will be severely disrupted due to a nationwide 24-hour strike organized by the Si-Cobas trade union, which represents public transport workers. This industrial action is set to affect cities across the country, from Rome to Milan, and extends to Trieste.
The strike comes in response to a broad set of demands, including pay increases for public transport workers and larger political issues such as the freezing of military expenditures and the cessation of arms shipments to Ukraine. The union has also called for “an end to the colonial occupation of Palestinian land.” Although Trenitalia rail services will be unaffected by the strike, local commuters in cities like Trieste will still face considerable challenges as they navigate around bus and tram service suspensions.
This strike is one of many affecting Italian transport sectors this month, with strikes disrupting air travel and national train services. However, the industrial action targeting public transportation is likely to be felt most acutely by the many residents and tourists in Trieste who rely on the TPL network, especially as the city prepares for the influx of visitors for cultural and historic events throughout October.
Adding to the tension is a separate strike in Italy’s automotive sector, where workers from the Stellantis automaker group, along with others in the sector, are staging an eight-hour strike on the same day. The protest centers around Stellantis’ decision to relocate production outside of Italy, a move that has sparked strong criticism from both workers and Italian politicians, including Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini.
