Italian workers on strike at Naval Support Activity Naples crowd the road leading to the base's main gate on June 30, 2023. Two unions representing 4,000 Italian workers at U.S. military bases across Italy called for a strike to protest stalled contract negotiations. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
NAPLES, Italy — More than 100 striking Italian workers slowed and sometimes stopped traffic flowing onto a Navy base here Friday morning, but installation services normally staffed by those employees largely were unaffected by the walkout.
Dozens of cars attempting to enter Naval Support Activity Naples rolled by the peaceful demonstrators carrying labor union flags and crowding the road leading to the base’s main gate, resulting in a backup that stretched about a quarter-mile.
Food courts, child care centers and recreation facilities at NSA Naples remained open despite the strike called by two unions representing 4,000 Italian employees at Army, Air Force and Navy bases throughout Italy.
U.S. officials warned the military community earlier the strike could disrupt some services.
The unions called for the strike over contract negotiations stalled by pay demands, proposed layoffs and a job-classification system they say discriminates against Italian workers. It was planned for Army and Air Force installations Thursday and Navy bases on Friday.
Cars trying to enter Naval Support Activity Naples slowly roll by a crowd of Italian base workers on strike on June 30, 2023. While the strike snarled morning rush hour traffic, it did not significantly impact base services. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
The strike is about respect, said Gennaro Di Micco, a spokesman for one of the unions. Di Micco characterized relations between the unions and the individual bases as generally good and productive.
Impacts at NSA Naples and Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily were few, but services such as the exchange, commissary and gym had reduced hours and fewer offerings, Navy region officials said.
For example, the commissary at NAS Sigonella only had self-checkout available. Some active duty, civilian and other employees at NSA Naples likely were working from home due to the strike, making the base quieter than usual, officials said.
Other U.S. installations in Italy also saw minimal disruption from the rallies. For example, a small group of striking workers was outside Aviano Air Base on Thursday, with little or no apparent impact to services.
Meanwhile, a crowd of more than 300 gathered about a half-mile from the main entrance to U.S. Army Garrison Italy at Vicenza, garrison spokesman Rick Scavetta said.
The base’s food court and convenience stores were closed for the day, while the exchange, commissary and post office remained open but with reduced hours, he said.
The contract between the workers and their U.S. military employers expired in October 2021. Since then, U.S. negotiators have offered a salary increase of about 200 euros per year per worker, an amount that does not adequately address rising living costs, Di Micco said.
Italian base workers on strike June 30, 2023, outside Naval Support Activity Naples say their contract expired in October 2021. Negotiations on a new contract have stalled over pay increases, proposed layoffs and what unions representing 4,000 Italian base employees say are discriminatory practices. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
Union officials say that similar contract negotiations at U.S. military bases in Germany resulted in a 2,400 euro annual salary increase for workers.
The unions also say they weren’t notified properly or timely about the intent to lay off 41 workers at Vicenza, and that Italian workers in jobs identical to their American counterparts are classified differently, resulting in lower pay for the same work.
U.S. military officials said talks are ongoing and they are confident an agreement can be reached.
“We can’t do our mission without our Italian employees,” Scavetta said. “They are very important.”
