General strike in Italy: Chaos for travelers and vacationers threaten!

General strike in Italy: Chaos for travelers and vacationers threaten!

Rom, Italien - On June 20, 2025, travelers in Italy experience the effects of a large-scale 24-hour general strike, which began at 9 p.m. on June 19 and lasts until 9 p.m. on June 20. This strike affects numerous sectors, especially the transport sector, but also schools and healthcare. The unions are calling for better working conditions, more investments in public services and an armistice in Gaza. Current reports from Merkur confirm that about a quarter of employees in cities such as Rome and Turin actively take part in the strike.

rail traffic is severely affected; There are delays as well as failures in regional, distant and high-speed trains. In particular, guaranteed travel times in train traffic between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. There are also considerable restrictions in air traffic, since the Italian airline ITA Airways had to cancel a total of 32 flights on June 20. Travelers are asked to check their flight status regularly.

public transport and other effects

In public transport in Rome, some metro lines and certain connections are fully set, while others are only partially active. A tour group from Styria, which goes on vacation in Venice, also has difficulty organizing a return trip, since water taxis are also affected by the failures. Visitors, like a Carinthian, are surprised by the developments.

The strike measures also lead to disturbances in road transport; In Bologna, around 7,000 metal workers blocked a bypass, which led to a considerable traffic jam. Autobahn employee continued their protests from 10 p.m. on June 19, which leads to further delays and closed toll stations. These restrictions concern not only regional traffic, but also ferry traffic, in particular connections to Sardinia, Sicily and abroad, such as Greece, Spain and Croatia.

Although there can be considerable failures, basic care for traffic remains guaranteed. The authorities advise travelers to inform themselves about current developments in their transport companies and, if necessary, look for alternatives. The situation remains tense, while unions and government continue to discuss the required improvements.