Bari woke up today to an all-day stoppage of its municipal bus network after the unions UIL Trasporti, Filt-CGIL, Fit-CISL and UGL Autoferro called a 24-hour strike. The action, confirmed in an 13 November notice but effective from 00:00 on 14 November, affects drivers, ticket inspectors and depot staff at AMTAB, Bari’s public-transport operator. Only two ‘guarantee’ windows (05:30-08:29 and 12:30-15:29) ensure minimum services, leaving business travellers outside those hours reliant on taxis or private cars. Union leaders accuse AMTAB of “chronic understaffing and stalled wage talks”, noting that a previous four-hour strike in October reached 23.6 % participation. Management counters that salary adjustments depend on city-council budget approvals still pending for 2027. The breakdown in “industrial relations” is now in the hands of the prefecture, which may compel arbitration if further actions are announced. For employers, the walk-out highlights growing labour unrest in Italy’s local-transport sector ahead of the 20-21 November nationwide general strike. Companies with field staff in Bari are advising remote work or ride-sharing. Travellers connecting to Bari Airport should allow extra time, as the AMTAB 16 and 16/ bus lines are operating at skeleton levels outside guarantee bands. Under Italian law, passengers whose season tickets lose an entire day of validity during a 24-hour strike can request partial reimbursement. The city has set up a dedicated page on the AMTAB website listing eligible tickets and refund procedures—a useful tip for expatriates unfamiliar with Italian consumer-rights rules.
Source: Notizie Bari
