Even a tourist who has arrived in Rome, Milan, Naples or any other Italian city for a short time will most likely have to face a strike of public transport (sciopero dei trasporti). In any case, before buying tickets for a certain date or planning a trip by public transport, everyone should check if the chosen route works as usual. Italians strike enthusiastically, tastefully and almost daily.
The right to strike is enshrined in article 40 of the Constitution, although there is still no general law on strikes in Italy, despite the frequency of this phenomenon.
Title
Sopera (sciopero) - derived from the word scioperare. It came from the Latin exoperare, which means "stop work" ("smettere di lavorare"). There is also an antique version of the word sciopero. It has nothing to do with the word basta (enough, enough), although the Russian word "strike" is probably somehow related to the Italian basta, because "strike" is found in Russian dictionaries of the 18th century as a card term in the meaning "stop the game" .
There are four types of strikes:
- National (Nazionale);
- Corporate (Aziendale);
- Regional (Regione);
- Urban (by city name).
Why and how it happens
A strike is a common way to resolve labor disputes in Italy. For example, employees are not satisfied with one of the conditions of the collective labor agreement, but they failed to agree with the management. A strike in this case is the only way to achieve counter-steps.
Do not confuse these strikes with the “silent Italian strike”, which assumes that workers create only the appearance of work, or do work carelessly, most transport strikes in Italy are a complete suspension of ground or air flights for several hours during the day.
The frequency of strikes is offset by their organization. The schedule is known for several months in advance, the suspension of work usually lasts a day, and passengers can use fasce di garanzia.
Guaranteed transportation
According to Italian law, public transport workers, regardless of their plans for a strike, are required to provide transportation twice a day. These gaps are called “fashia protetta” (fascia protetta - ext. Protection Zone) or “fashe di garanzia” (fasce di garanzia - ext. Guarantee strip). Usually they are fixed. Being on the spot, getting information about them is easy. Tentatively they are from 5 to 8 in the morning, from 17 to 20 in the evening.
Examples
On March 18, 2016, a nationwide strike was held. Not only transport workers, but also other public utilities took part in it. The strike schedule in each city was individual, for example, in Rome ground public transport worked around the clock, with the exception of four morning hours (until 12:30 local time), and in Milan, on the contrary, transport was carried out in only 3 hours: from 15: 00 to 18:00, the rest of the time, the residents of the city and its guests solved the problem of delivering themselves to the right place on their own.
You can find out about strikes on airlines from RIA Novosti. For example, On April 8, 2016, Unica and Anpcat unions held a strike, as a result of which Aerofolot was forced to cancel 6 flights to Italy on April 9 (Saturday). Passengers wishing to fly from Sheremetyevo to Rome, Milan, Bologna on this day or in the opposite direction had to cancel or reschedule the trip, the flight Sheremetyevo-Venice was postponed 4 hours 25 minutes later.
Half of the members of both unions participated in this strike. About 250 flights were canceled domestically.
What you need to know about strikes
Planning a train ride on a strike day is only in the morning or evening, the rest of the time there are no guarantees that the passenger will reach the final destination, especially if it is more than an hour's journey to it. You should also take into account late time in advance: on strike days they are in the order of things.
Moving strikes is also a common occurrence, especially often practiced by airlines and airport workers, so it’s worth checking the airline’s plans, until the evening before the day of departure.
For moving around the city and nearby there is always a backup option - a taxi.
Where to find out
Tour operators have no information on the strike schedule. You should find out on the spot: transport stops, sites, social networks. Accurate information is available on the Today website network, for example, about the strike in Rimini should be read in Rimini Today, Forli - in Forli Today.
There is a calendar of transport strikes on the website of the Ministry of Industry and Transport. It is enough to choose the industry of interest (Settore): air transportation (Aereo), railway (Ferroviario), local ground transportation (Trasporto pubblico locale). There is information on strikes several months in advance up to 2020.
- Another convenient strike calendar is here.
- About strikes on the railways - here.
The schedule of strikes varies from place to place. For example, On October 21, 2016 a general strike was held that affected all types of transport: air (from 00.00 to 23.59), local public (round the clock, except for statutory mandatory hours), sea (from 00.00 to 24.00 hours), railway (from 01.01 to 17.00), ANAS road network (from 00.00 to 24.00 hours).
In Naples (for example), local transport worked as follows:
- Buses - from 5.30 to 8.30 in the morning and from 17.00 to 20.00 in the evening;
- Metro - depending on the route;
- The cable car - the last flight at 9:20 hours, in the evening - at 19:50;
- Elevators (also related to public transport) - from 7:00 to 8:30 and from 17:00 to 20:00.
For the rest of the time, anyone who wanted to drive through could see an ad on the doorway - Sciopera!
Findings
Do not worry too much (I would not worry at all in your place) because of strikes in Italy, it is as much a part of culture and traditions as Italian cuisine or a fan football movement. Humble yourself, relaxtake pictures in the end. Yes, of course, you can be late for a train or plane, but with what Italian did this not happen? It will be, then, what to tell your friends upon returning home, and even after years you will definitely remember the Italian strike that influenced your fate with a smile.
