Transport minister orders walkout postponed but USB says it will defy the order and accept the penalties.Italy’s transport minister Matteo Salvini has signed an order halting Friday’s transport strike, Italian media reported, but the union behind the general strike has said it will go ahead regardless.The ministry of infrastructure and transport issued the injunction, known as a precettazione, a tactic Salvini has used on several previous occasions to curb strikes affecting public transport, according to state broadcaster RAI News. The order asks for the 30 October stoppage to be postponed in air transport, taxis, local public transport, rail and maritime services, railway contracting, and road traffic and safety. The ministry says these sectors are covered by the “franchigia” - a period when strikes are barred - in the days around All Souls' Day, the commemoration of the dead on 2 November, news agency ANSA reported. The Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), which called Friday's general strike, rejected the order immediately. It described it as “wrong and illegitimate” and said it would disobey, Italian media reported. The union confirmed the strike would run for the entire day in the sectors named in the ministerial act, and said it would take on the sanctions, which it acknowledged are “very heavy”, while maintaining they are unlawful. Background to the strike The USB’s national mobilisation covers workers in both the public and private sectors. A separate action has been called by USI-CIT, joined by USI Educazione and USIS. The unions say the aim is to draw attention to workers’ economic difficulties, including rising prices for goods and services and the erosion of wages’ purchasing power, as well as working conditions. The protest is also directed against wars. The USB has called for price controls, higher wages and pensions, and public spending directed at social services rather than arms. Sectors affected Air travel is at risk on Friday, with a walkout by staff at Tuscan airport operators serving Pisa and Florence. Rail action is scheduled from 21.00 on Thursday 29 October until 20.59 on Friday. Motorway workers are due to walk out from 22.00 on Thursday, while taxis are affected almost all day, from 00.01 to 23.59. Port workers will also strike for a day. Duration and arrangements for local public transport will be set locally. The strike may also affect schools, public healthcare and local government offices. Emergency and urgent care will be guaranteed in hospitals, while the impact on lessons and services will depend on how many staff take part. Not every worker is obliged to strike, and a strike call does not necessarily mean services close entirely. Public order concerns Friday’s strike is also seen as a new test for public order. It follows large demonstrations over the past two weekends, including those on 17 October that degenerated into disorder. Clashes also took place in Rome, Turin and Bologna last Saturday. Demonstrations are planned on Friday in cities including Rome, Milan, Bologna, Turin, Florence, Naples and Palermo. Students will join the USB in the main cities, along with farmers, hauliers, housing movements and social centres. Authorities are on maximum alert, though the context differs from previous protests. As well as monitoring the streets and talking with organisers, police will again watch online activity to detect violent groups who might join the marches, or links forming between different protest groups. Commuters and travellers are advised to check with their operators and travel companies for updates. Photo credit: Antonello Marangi / Shutterstock.com

Italy’s transport minister has signed an order halting Friday’s transport strike, Italian media reported, but the union behind the general strike has said it will go ahead regardless. The ministry of infrastructure and transport issued the injunction, known as a precettazione, a tactic Salvini has used on several previous occasions to curb strikes affecting public transport, according to state broadcaster RAI News. The order asks for the 30 October stoppage to be postponed in air transport, taxis, local public transport, rail and maritime services, railway contracting, and road traffic and safety. The ministry says these sectors are covered by the “franchigia” - a period when strikes are barred - in the days around , the commemoration of the dead on 2 November, news agency ANSA reported. The Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), which called , rejected the order immediately. It described it as “wrong and illegitimate” and said it would disobey, Italian media reported. The union confirmed the strike would run for the entire day in the sectors named in the ministerial act, and said it would take on the sanctions, which it acknowledged are “very heavy”, while maintaining they are unlawful. The USB’s national mobilisation covers workers in both the public and private sectors. A separate action has been called by USI-CIT, joined by USI Educazione and USIS. The unions say the aim is to draw attention to workers’ economic difficulties, including rising prices for goods and services and the erosion of wages’ purchasing power, as well as working conditions. The protest is also directed against wars. The USB has called for price controls, higher wages and pensions, and public spending directed at social services rather than arms. Air travel is at risk on Friday, with a walkout by staff at Tuscan airport operators serving Pisa and Florence. Rail action is scheduled from 21.00 on Thursday 29 October until 20.59 on Friday. Motorway workers are due to walk out from 22.00 on Thursday, while taxis are affected almost all day, from 00.01 to 23.59. Port workers will also strike for a day. Duration and arrangements for local public transport will be set locally. The strike may also affect schools, public healthcare and local government offices. Emergency and urgent care will be guaranteed in hospitals, while the impact on lessons and services will depend on how many staff take part. Not every worker is obliged to strike, and a strike call does not necessarily mean services close entirely. Friday’s strike is also seen as a new test for public order. It follows large demonstrations over the past two weekends, including those on 17 October that degenerated into disorder. Clashes also took place in Rome, Turin and Bologna last Saturday. Demonstrations are planned on Friday in cities including Rome, Milan, Bologna, Turin, Florence, Naples and Palermo. Students will join the USB in the main cities, along with farmers, hauliers, housing movements and social centres. Authorities are on maximum alert, though the context differs from previous protests. As well as monitoring the streets and talking with organisers, police will again watch online activity to detect violent groups who might join the marches, or links forming between different protest groups. Commuters and travellers are advised to check with their operators and travel companies for updates. Photo credit: Antonello Marangi / Shutterstock.com