Italian employees from U.S. military bases in the country march to the front gate of the Capodichino base in Naples in 2010. A worker walkout could cause potential disruptions to base services this week after two unions representing 4,000 Italian workers announced a strike. (Stars and Stripes)
U.S. military installations in Italy are facing potential disruptions this week after two unions representing 4,000 Italian workers announced strikes scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
The two-day walkout could affect a range of services that employ the workers, including exchanges, food courts, child care facilities and vehicle registration offices, military officials said.
At Army and Air Force bases, such as U.S. Army Garrison Italy in Vicenza and Camp Darby near Livorno, it is planned for Thursday. The work stoppage is scheduled Friday at Navy bases in Naples and Sicily, according to a June 8 statement posted to the website of one of the unions.
The contract between the workers and U.S. military installations in Italy expired Oct. 30, 2021, according to the union statement. The union did not immediately respond Wednesday to a Stars and Stripes request for further comment.
The workers want a new agreement and for the U.S. military in Italy to address several issues, including improvements in communication with the unions, the statement said.
Base services and operations staffed by union-represented workers could be reduced or closed, much like what happens on Italian holidays, the Army garrison said on its official Facebook page Tuesday.
Army officials also advised supervisors to use telework for affected personnel.
While the strike includes all workers represented by the unions, demonstrations are planned only in Vicenza on Thursday and at Naval Support Activity Naples on Friday.
The Vicenza demonstration could include a sit-in and a march to the main gate, the garrison said in its Facebook post.
NSA Naples expected similar impacts. In a basewide message sent Tuesday, officials warned that traffic flow at its Capodochino and Support Site locations could be worse because of the strike.
"We advise all community members to not interfere with any striking demonstrations," officials said in their message.
An Aviano Air Base representative declined to release any information before strike details were confirmed.
Stars and Stripes reporter Alison Bath contributed to this report.
