Italian transport ministry hails "common sense" as major trade unions suspend eight-hour strike, however independent grassroots unions plan to go ahead with their 23-hour walkout.Italy's national eight-hour rail strike on Thursday 11 June has been suspended after several of the country's major trade unions called off their planned action following last-minute talks with the government.However, independent grassroots unions vowed to press on with their 23-hour walkout, with effect from 03.00 on Thursday. Suspended strike The eight-hour strike, which had been scheduled from 09.00 to 17.00 on Thursday, was originally called by numerous unions including Filt-Cgil, Fit-Cisl, Uiltrasporti, Ugl Ferrovieri, Fast Confsal and Orsa Trasporti. The unions called the strike in protest at the transport ministry's plan to put the Intercity train service out to competitive tender, splitting it into three unequal lots rather than maintaining it as a single contract. The unions argued this fragmentation threatened the jobs of around 3,000 railway workers currently employed by Trenitalia, part of the Ferrovie dello Stato group, and that the tender lacked binding social clauses to protect those workers' continued employment. Talks On Tuesday evening, the confederal unions suspended their eight-hour stoppage after a meeting at the transport ministry with deputy minister Edoardo Rixi. Following roughly two hours of discussions, the unions agreed to suspend their action linked to the Intercity services. Rixi said the talks had gone well, noting that the ministry had opened discussions with the European Commission with the aim of making a single-lot tender possible - something currently prevented by the PNRR decree, which provided only for the tendering of multiple lots. In a post on X, the transport ministry wrote: "Train strike averted, dialogue and common sense prevail". Filt-Cgil secretary general Stefano Malorgio described it as "a result of ministerial commitment" that allowed the union to suspend - but not revoke - the strike, noting that the distinction was not merely technical but reflected the need to monitor whether the process would deliver results. He also claimed that splitting the rail service into lots did not benefit passengers and put jobs at risk. Uiltrasporti's secretary general Marco Verzari echoed that assessment, calling it "an opening of credit" towards the government and stressing that workers affected by the Intercity service still needed guarantees, including a workable social clause and progress on the national collective labour agreement. 23-hour strike to go ahead The suspension did not, however, end disruption entirely. The grassroots unions Cub Trasporti and Sgb confirmed they would proceed with their own 23-hour strike, running from 03.00 on Thursday 11 June to 02.00 on Friday 12 June, in support of a platform seeking a national collective contract that adequately protects workers' rights, safety, health and pay, and in opposition to what they called the "black hole" of tendering. A statement from the Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) confirmed that a national rail strike was in effect from 03.00 on 11 June to 02.00 on 12 June, affecting staff of the FS Italiane group, Italo and Trenord, with potential knock-on disruption both before and after the declared strike window. Urban public transport services - including metro, bus and tram networks - were not involved and will operate as normal. Passengers are advised to check the status of their trains in advance via the official websites and apps of their rail operator. Photo credit: Antonello Marangi / Shutterstock.com

Italy's national eight-hour rail strike on Thursday 11 June has been suspended after several of the country's major trade unions called off their planned action following last-minute talks with the government. However, independent grassroots unions vowed to press on with their 23-hour walkout, with effect from 03.00 on Thursday. The , which had been scheduled from 09.00 to 17.00 on Thursday, was originally called by numerous unions including Filt-Cgil, Fit-Cisl, Uiltrasporti, Ugl Ferrovieri, Fast Confsal and Orsa Trasporti. The unions called the strike in protest at the transport ministry's plan to put the Intercity train service out to competitive tender, splitting it into three unequal lots rather than maintaining it as a single contract. The unions argued this fragmentation threatened the jobs of around 3,000 railway workers currently employed by Trenitalia, part of the Ferrovie dello Stato group, and that the tender lacked binding social clauses to protect those workers' continued employment. On Tuesday evening, the confederal unions suspended their eight-hour stoppage after a meeting at the transport ministry with deputy minister Edoardo Rixi. Following roughly two hours of discussions, the unions agreed to suspend their action linked to the Intercity services. Rixi said the talks had gone well, noting that the ministry had opened discussions with the European Commission with the aim of making a single-lot tender possible - something currently prevented by the PNRR decree, which provided only for the tendering of multiple lots. In a post on X, the transport ministry wrote: "Train strike averted, dialogue and common sense prevail". Filt-Cgil secretary general Stefano Malorgio described it as "a result of ministerial commitment" that allowed the union to suspend - but not revoke - the strike, noting that the distinction was not merely technical but reflected the need to monitor whether the process would deliver results. He also claimed that splitting the rail service into lots did not benefit passengers and put jobs at risk. Uiltrasporti's secretary general Marco Verzari echoed that assessment, calling it "an opening of credit" towards the government and stressing that workers affected by the Intercity service still needed guarantees, including a workable social clause and progress on the national collective labour agreement. The suspension did not, however, end disruption entirely. The grassroots unions Cub Trasporti and Sgb confirmed they would proceed with their own 23-hour strike, running from 03.00 on Thursday 11 June to 02.00 on Friday 12 June, in support of a platform seeking a national collective contract that adequately protects workers' rights, safety, health and pay, and in opposition to what they called the "black hole" of tendering. A  from the Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) confirmed that a national rail strike was in effect from 03.00 on 11 June to 02.00 on 12 June, affecting staff of the FS Italiane group, Italo and Trenord, with potential knock-on disruption both before and after the declared strike window. Urban public transport services - including metro, bus and tram networks - were not involved and will operate as normal. Passengers are advised to check the status of their trains in advance via the official websites and apps of their rail operator. Photo credit: Antonello Marangi / Shutterstock.com