Nation-wide strikes to disrupt rail, air and ferry services between 21 and 24 July

Italian travellers face a trio of industrial actions next week that could hit both domestic and international mobility at the height of the holiday season. The first walk-out, scheduled for Tuesday 21 July, involves a 24-hour strike by EasyJet flight crews and ground-handling staff at multiple airports, as well as by cargo handlers at Milan Malpensa, Olbia and Alghero. Several regional GH service providers in Lamezia Terme, Naples and Salerno will also stop work during selected four-hour windows. From 21:00 on Thursday 23 July until 20:59 on Friday 24 July, the rail sector will come to a stand-still after base unions Cub Trasporti and Sgb called a 24-hour national strike. Trenitalia has published a list of guaranteed long-distance trains, while regional operators will run only essential services during the 06:00–09:00 and 18:00–21:00 peaks. Local tram and metro networks are expected to respect the same protection bands but warn of possible knock-on delays. Adding to the disruption, maritime union Orsa Marittimi has declared a 24-hour stoppage for GNV ferry crews from noon 22 July to noon 23 July, potentially affecting routes between Genoa, Palermo and Tunis. Consumer group Federconsumatori urged travellers to “check itineraries daily and keep documentation of additional expenses” in case refund claims become necessary. Global-mobility managers moving assignees into or out of Italy during the period should consider re-routing via Switzerland, Austria or France or advancing departures to 20 July at the latest. Employers must also remember that Italian labour law obliges staff to inform companies only 24 hours in advance if they intend to participate in a strike, so on-the-day absences are legally protected. For posted-worker compliance, HR teams should document any delays to justify potential late starts at the workplace. The Ministry of Transport has not ordered minimum service levels beyond the statutory guarantees, but civil-aviation authority ENAC may activate additional safeguards if cancellations exceed 40 % of scheduled flights. A final conciliation meeting on 19 July will decide whether the actions go ahead; experience suggests the majority of calls are confirmed.