Trains, public transport, schools and public offices are expected to be hit by a 24-hour walkout called by grassroots unions over the cost of living, wages and rearmament.A general strike is set to disrupt transport and public services across Italy on Friday 30 October, with demonstrations planned in Rome, Milan and other cities.The walkout, proclaimed by trade union Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) and backed by other grassroots unions including ADL-Cobas, Clap and Unicobas, covers workers in both the public and private sectors. USB says it is protesting against the rising cost of living, war and rearmament. It is also calling for higher wages, price controls on essential goods and the reinstatement of the wage-indexation system. The strike coincides with an international day of action by dockworkers against the arms trade. Trains and motorways Rail services will be affected from 21.00 on Thursday 29 October until the same time on Friday, with operators including Trenitalia, Italo and Trenord involved. Guaranteed commuter services normally run from 06.00 to 09.00 and from 18.00 to 21.00. Motorway staff will also strike from 22.00 on Thursday, while taxi drivers will stop from midnight on Thursday until midnight on Friday. Rome In the capital, the strike will affect the ATAC network and private operators including Autoservizi Troiani/Sap, Autoservizi Tuscia/Bis and Atr. Services on the ATAC network are guaranteed from the start of service until 08.30 and from 17.00 to 20.00. Outside those times, buses, trams and metro lines A, B/B1 and C may not run, and metro services will not be guaranteed after midnight. Night buses will not be guaranteed on the night of 29-30 October, but will run on the night of 30-31 October. Lifts, escalators and stairlifts are not guaranteed in any stations that stay open, and ticket offices will be closed. Online ticketing will work as normal. Disruption is also possible on Cotral’s extra-urban routes, including the Metromare and Roma Nord lines. ATAC said participation in USB’s last general strike, on 18 May, was 42.9 per cent on the surface network and 12.2 per cent on the metro and regional railways. Schools, hospitals and airports Teachers and support staff in schools and universities are expected to take part, and public offices may run reduced services. Hospitals will maintain emergency care and urgent treatment, but routine appointments and tests may be postponed. The strike is also to affect the aviation sector from just after midnight on Thursday until 23.59 on Friday. Demonstrations USB has called a rally in Rome at 10.30 in Piazza dei Cinquecento, outside the central Termini station, and in Milan at 10.00 in Piazza Duca d’Aosta. Student groups and other workers’ collectives are planning local protests.   Travellers should check operators’ websites for updates before setting out. For official details of upcoming strikes in Italy see the strike calendar published by the transport ministry. Photo credit: StudioLab Images / Shutterstock.com

A general strike is set to disrupt transport and public services across Italy on Friday 30 October, with demonstrations planned in Rome, Milan and other cities. The walkout, proclaimed by trade union Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) and backed by other grassroots unions including ADL-Cobas, Clap and Unicobas, covers workers in both the public and private sectors. USB says it is protesting against the rising cost of living, war and rearmament. It is also calling for higher wages, price controls on essential goods and the reinstatement of the wage-indexation system. The strike coincides with an international day of action by dockworkers against the arms trade. Rail services will be affected from 21.00 on Thursday 29 October until the same time on Friday, with operators including Trenitalia, Italo and Trenord involved. Guaranteed commuter services normally run from 06.00 to 09.00 and from 18.00 to 21.00. Motorway staff will also strike from 22.00 on Thursday, while taxi drivers will stop from midnight on Thursday until midnight on Friday. In the capital, the strike will affect the ATAC network and private operators including Autoservizi Troiani/Sap, Autoservizi Tuscia/Bis and Atr. Services on the ATAC network are guaranteed from the start of service until 08.30 and from 17.00 to 20.00. Outside those times, buses, trams and metro lines A, B/B1 and C may not run, and metro services will not be guaranteed after midnight. Night buses will not be guaranteed on the night of 29-30 October, but will run on the night of 30-31 October. Lifts, escalators and stairlifts are not guaranteed in any stations that stay open, and ticket offices will be closed. Online ticketing will work as normal. Disruption is also possible on Cotral’s extra-urban routes, including the Metromare and Roma Nord lines. ATAC said participation in USB’s last general strike, on 18 May, was 42.9 per cent on the surface network and 12.2 per cent on the metro and regional railways. Teachers and support staff in schools and universities are expected to take part, and public offices may run reduced services. Hospitals will maintain emergency care and urgent treatment, but routine appointments and tests may be postponed. The strike is also to affect the aviation sector from just after midnight on Thursday until 23.59 on Friday. USB has called a rally in Rome at 10.30 in Piazza dei Cinquecento, outside the central Termini station, and in Milan at 10.00 in Piazza Duca d’Aosta. Student groups and other workers’ collectives are planning local protests.   Travellers should check operators’ websites for updates before setting out. For official details of upcoming strikes in Italy see the published by the transport ministry. Photo credit: StudioLab Images / Shutterstock.com