The week preceding Easter is shaping up to be a challenging one for travelers across Italy, as significant union mobilizations are set to disrupt both air and rail transport. Between April 9 and April 12, 2025, national strikes are planned, and millions of passengers are expected to be affected.
On Wednesday, April 9, the aviation sector will see a four-hour strike from 12:00 to 16:00. Various unions are raising alarms about deteriorating contractual conditions, inadequate safety measures, poor work organization, and disputes over pay, particularly regarding overtime, holidays, and weekend work. The strike will involve flight attendants, ground staff, ramp operations personnel, check-in staff, and handling staff. Notably, the Cub Trasporti union will represent aviation, airport, and related sector workers, including those from Enac. Other notable participants include Sea, which operates Linate and Malpensa airports, and Gesap at Palermo Airport, where personnel will strike for eight hours from 10:30 to 18:30. EasyJet flight attendants will also join the action. However, flights scheduled between 7:00 and 10:00 in the morning and between 18:00 and 21:00 in the evening are expected to operate normally.
As for the railway sector, strikes are scheduled for Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12. These strikes will commence at 3:00 on April 11 and conclude at 2:00 on April 12, affecting employees of the FS Italiane Group, Italo, and Trenord. The unions involved are advocating for the renewal of collective contracts, enhanced workplace safety, better shift management, and improved overall working conditions. This disruption is likely to extend to freight transport as well, impacting the movement of goods across rail lines.
In Milan, commuters will face additional challenges on April 11 due to overlapping strikes from Trenord employees and Atm employees, which will halt public transport services throughout the city. The Si Cobas union has declared a general strike for both public and private sectors, further complicating matters for local transportation, including metro, trams, and buses. Although the strike will last for 24 hours, certain guaranteed service times will be implemented to allow for essential travel. Details regarding these times have yet to be confirmed on the Atm website, but typically, they cover the early morning and late afternoon.
The railway strike is also expected to cause significant disruptions in regional, suburban, and airport services, with possible cancellations and delays. Trenord has indicated that during guaranteed hours, trains scheduled to depart after 6:00 and after 18:00 will run, provided they arrive at their final destination by 9:00 and 21:00, respectively. In the event of cancellations affecting airport services, buses will be established between Milano Cadorna and Malpensa Airport, as well as between Stabio and Malpensa Airport for the S50 connection.
Union representatives have cited several grievances as reasons for the strikes. The Si Cobas union, for instance, has called for a halt to military spending and the sending of arms to Ukraine, an end to the colonial occupation of Palestinian lands, and a general increase of 300 euros for all public and private employment contracts to offset inflation. They are also demanding a reduction in working hours while maintaining current pay rates—37 hours for day shifts and 35 for night shifts—along with measures to combat precarious employment and reduce reliance on temporary agencies. Furthermore, they oppose the Crosetto-Nordio-Piantedosi security package, which they believe suppresses social struggles, especially those involving striking workers.
As travelers prepare for the upcoming holiday weekend, they are urged to stay informed about the strikes and plan their journeys accordingly. With Easter being one of the busiest travel times of the year, the convergence of these strikes could lead to widespread frustration and delays.
Looking ahead, additional disruptions are anticipated on April 23, 2025, when workers from the La Gardenia group plan to strike, impacting all Rfi railway contracts. This continued wave of union action highlights ongoing tensions within various sectors regarding working conditions and labor rights.
In summary, the upcoming week promises to be fraught with challenges for those traveling in Italy, as union-led strikes threaten to disrupt essential transportation services across the country. Travelers are advised to remain vigilant and flexible in their travel plans as they navigate this turbulent period.
