Italian
Disruptions in transport and demonstrations in numerous Italian cities
ITALY. Today, Monday, September 22, a nationwide general strike is taking place across Italy, called by the main grassroots unions, who have chosen to mobilize in support of the Palestinian population and the international campaign Global Sumud Flotilla. The protest does not involve the major confederate unions such as CGIL, CISL, and UIL, but significant participation is still expected.
The strike affects various public and private sectors, with disruptions anticipated in schools, healthcare, and transport.
Rail traffic on Trenitalia, Italo, Trenord, and Trenitalia Tper has been suspended since midnight and will resume at 11 p.m., with only the Calabrian railways excluded from the protest. The traditional guaranteed time slots remain in force: from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for regional trains. A list of confirmed long-distance trains is available on the companies’ websites.
Local Public Transport
Many cities are experiencing disruptions in different ways:
- Rome: service suspended from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 8 p.m. until the end of service
- Milan: service suspended from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. until the end of service
Port operations are also facing blockades: in Genoa, Trieste, Civitavecchia, and Ancona interruptions are possible, in line with actions by dockworkers who had already opposed the transit of military equipment bound for Israel in recent months.
Demonstrations in the Cities
Alongside the strike, numerous demonstrations have been organized:
- Rome: march from Termini at 11 a.m.
- Milan: march starting from Cadorna at 10 a.m.
- Naples: two events, one in the morning from Piazza Garibaldi and another in the afternoon at the former NATO base in Bagnoli
Dozens of other Italian cities will also see rallies and marches.
The Position of the Confederations
The major unions have not joined the mobilization. In particular, CGIL had already organized a national autonomous strike last Friday, September 19, on the same issue, which led to smaller-scale initiatives compared to those planned for today.
