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

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

On June 20, 2025, travelers in Italy are experiencing the effects of a large-scale 24-hour general strike that began at 9 p.m. on June 19 and continues until 9 p.m. on June 20. This strike affects numerous sectors, particularly transport, but also schools and healthcare. The unions are demanding better working conditions, more investment in public services and a ceasefire in Gaza. Current reports from Mercury confirm that around a quarter of workers in cities such as Rome and Turin are actively participating in the strike.

Rail traffic is severely affected; There are both delays and cancellations on regional, long-distance and high-speed trains. In particular, guaranteed train travel times apply between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. There are also significant restrictions in air traffic, as the Italian airline Ita Airways had to cancel a total of 32 flights on June 20th. Travelers are encouraged to check their flight status regularly.

Public transport and other impacts

In public transport in Rome, some metro lines and certain connections are completely suspended, while others are only partially active. A travel group from Styria vacationing in Venice is also having difficulty organizing a return trip because water taxis are also affected by the cancellations. Visitors, like a Carinthian woman, are surprised by the developments.

The strike measures are also leading to disruptions in road transport; In Bologna, around 7,000 metal workers blocked a bypass road, causing significant traffic jams. Highway workers continued their protests from 10pm on June 19, causing further delays and closed toll booths. These restrictions affect not only regional traffic, but also ferry traffic, especially connections to Sardinia, Sicily and abroad, such as Greece, Spain and Croatia.

Although there may be significant disruptions, basic transport services remain guaranteed. The authorities advise travelers to find out about current developments from their transport companies and, if necessary, to look for alternatives. The situation remains tense as unions and the government continue to discuss the improvements required.