A major 24-hour general strike across multiple sectors, including transport, schools, and healthcare, will go ahead tomorrow, December 13, after the Lazio Administrative Court (TAR) suspended Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini’s order limiting the stoppage to four hours. The strike, organized by the USB union, affects national railways, local public transport, and more. USB celebrated the court’s decision, stating: “Workers and democracy win today. This is a victory against Salvini’s authoritarianism.”
Salvini, however, criticized the ruling, blaming it for exacerbating pre-holiday chaos: “We’ve done everything to protect Italians’ right to mobility. For yet another Friday of disruption, citizens can thank the Lazio TAR.” The vice premier also reiterated his call to revise the 1990 strike legislation, claiming it leads to perpetual conflicts. He suggested a collaborative overhaul with unions to prevent recurring paralysis, but USB dismissed his proposal, alleging it undermines workers’ rights.
The broader debate centers on balancing essential services with labor rights. USB argues that essential services are neglected when it comes to funding yet prioritized when limiting strikes. As disruptions loom just days before Christmas, tensions between unions, the government, and the judiciary reflect deeper divisions over the future of Italy’s labor landscape.
