by InTrieste
Travelers in Italy are bracing for significant disruptions this weekend as railway workers stage a nationwide 24-hour strike, the latest in a series of labor actions sweeping the country this November.
The walkout, organized by multiple trade unions, will begin at 9 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, and extend until the same time on Sunday, November 24. Italy’s state-owned railway company, Ferrovie dello Stato, announced that the strike would affect regional and long-distance services operated by Trenitalia, as well as trains run by private operator Italo and regional lines such as Trenitalia Tper and Trenord, which serve Emilia-Romagna and Lombardia.
Unlike weekday strikes, which typically ensure limited service during rush hours, this weekend’s action is not subject to those guarantees, leaving passengers more vulnerable to full cancellations.
Union representatives say the strike aims to push for the renewal of a national collective bargaining agreement, improved workplace safety standards, and expanded rights for workers.
This weekend’s disruption follows a previous rail strike on November 5, triggered by an attack on a train conductor. The railway strikes bookend a tumultuous month of industrial action in Italy, which has seen walkouts by airline and publictransport workers and is expected to culminate in a general strike on November 29.
With labor tensions rising, the strikes highlight broader dissatisfaction across sectors, underscoring concerns about safety, wages, and job security in a fragile economic climate. For passengers, however, the weekend promises yet another challenge in navigating the nation’s transport network.
