A clear track at the train station in Vicenza, Italy, on Dec. 2, 2024. A nationwide railway workers strike could upend travel in Italy on Dec. 13. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
VICENZA, Italy — American military families stationed in Italy could face transit trouble later this month because of looming nationwide strikes involving transportation workers.
A general strike of Unione Sindacale di Base railway and local public transit employees is planned to last from 9 p.m. on Dec. 12 to 8:59 p.m. on Dec. 13. The union represents around 250,000 workers in various sectors across Italy.
Those hoping to avoid the strike by taking a cab also could have problems, since taxi company workers across Italy plan to strike all day on Dec. 13.
Also on Dec. 13, maritime transport personnel will strike, affecting ferries to and from major islands in the Venice area, which is about 40 miles from U.S. Army Garrison Italy headquarters in Vicenza.
The train station in Vicenza, Italy, as seen on Dec. 2, 2024. Rail travel in the country faces an impending nationwide strike, which could throw a wrench in holiday plans for U.S. military personnel stationed in Vicenza and elsewhere. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripe)
Air travel will be affected as well, with strikes planned Dec. 15 at 45 airports across Italy. But most of them will be for just part of the day, from 1-5 p.m., according to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
All Milan airports, including Milan Malpensa, the major international airport popular with Americans stationed in Vicenza, will take part in the strikes. Airports in Venice and Naples, which are also used heavily by U.S. forces, weren’t listed on the transit ministry’s statement as strike sites as of Monday.
The airport strikes include technical and operational management staffers, baggage workers and employees of restaurants and other airport services.
More than 15 strikes have been called in Italy so far in December, in health care and banks as well as transit. They come on the heels of walkouts on Nov. 29 that affected rail and air travel across Italy.
A bus stop outside the train station in Vicenza, Italy, on Dec. 2, 2024. Planned transportation worker strikes in December could affect holiday travel plans for U.S. service members stationed in the country. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
Unions involved in those strikes called for eight hours of protest actions, but Transport Minister Matteo Salvini filed an injunction that reduced the walkouts in some sectors to four hours.
Speaking about the planned Dec. 13 strikes, Salvini told reporters at a press conference on Nov. 30 he is “ready to intervene again.”
Unione Sindacale di Base said on Facebook it is striking because of inflation and stagnant wages, and in protest of government funding going toward the Italian military.
Details about upcoming strikes can be found on the Infrastructure and Transit Ministry website and on the U.S. Army Garrison Italy Facebook page.
