Transport Strike December 13: Trains, suspended vehicles and how to ask for refunds

A new general strike in the transport sector is planned for 13th December, putting at risk travel on trains, metro, buses, taxis and maritime transport. The protest, proclaimed by the unions Usb, Fi-Si and Usb Private Work, denounces unsustainable working conditions and insufficient wages compared to the cost of living. Although the strike does not involve the airline sector, more is expected significant inconvenience all over the country.

Attention: the TAR of Lazio has cancelled the injunction of Minister Salvini, therefore the strike will be once again 24 hours from 21:00 pm on Thursday 12th to 21:00 pm on Friday 13th.

Let's look in detail at the categories involved, the times and methods of the strike, as well as the reimbursement measures and political reactions.

>> Information and schedules on the EAV transport strike in Naples
>> Information and schedules on the ANM transport strike in Naples
>> The Naples Metro Line 2 being managed by Trenitalia follows the strike times of the regional trains listed below

Transports involved in the strike of December 13

The strike on December 13 will affect:

• National and regional trains.
• Local public transport: metro, bus and tram.
• Maritime transport, with the support of port workers.
• Taxi, although membership may vary.

Air transport, however, will not be involved on this occasion but will strike separately on December 15.

The promoting unions, including Usb, Fi-Si and Usb Lavoro Privato, have underlined the reasons for the strike: wages frozen for decades, grueling shifts and widespread precariousness, aggravated by the increasing use of contracts. At the heart of the protest are also the issues of health and safety at work and national contracts deemed unsatisfactory.

What are the strike times of December 13, 2024?

The strike times of the 13th December vary depending on the sector involved.
Here are the details available so far:

• National trains: the stop is scheduled from 21:00 pm on Thursday 12 December until 21:00 pm on Friday 13 December
• Local public transport (metro, bus and tram): the methods and times will vary from city to city, with guarantee bands planned to limit the inconvenience.
  MilanATM services (buses, trams and subways) at risk from 9:00
  • Rome: Possible interruptions on the ATAC network from 9:00
  • Torino: GTT services (urban-suburban, metropolitan) guaranteed in the time bands 6:00-9:00 e 12:00-15:00.
  • Napoli: ANM services (tram, bus, trolleybus) with guaranteed departures from 5:30 to 8:30 and from 17:00 to 20:00.
• Maritime transport: workers will cross their arms from 00:01 to 23:59 on Friday 13 December.
• Taxi: Drivers are expected to join for the entire day, but may vary between locations.

Detailed information on the timetables and methods of the guaranteed time slots will be available on the official websites of the respective transport companies.

The guarantee bands and which trains are guaranteed during the strike

Despite the strike, some trains will be guaranteed to reduce inconvenience to travellers.

Here's what to know:

• I long-distance trains guaranteed are available on the official website of the state RailwaysThese essential services include trains covering domestic routes and key connections.
• For regional transport and the Naples Metro Line 2 (managed by Trenitalia), runs are always guaranteed in busiest time slotsThese are:
  • From 6: 00 to 9: 00.
  • From 18: 00 to 21: 00
• Trains that are in transit at the start of the strike will reach their final destination, provided that within one hour of the start of the stop. Once this limit is exceeded, trains may stop at previous stations.

It is always advisable to check the status of your train in advance using the official Trenitalia or Italo channels.

How to Request Refunds and Reschedule

In case of delays or cancellations caused by the strike, travellers are entitled to refunds or to reschedule their travel.

Here's how the procedures work:

• Refunds for travel cancellations:
  • For trains Intercity e Arrows, you can request a refund up until the scheduled departure time of the booked train.
  • For trains Regional, the refund can be requested within 24:00 the previous day the strike.
• Rescheduling your trip:
  • Travellers may opt for rescheduling to an alternative train with similar transport conditions, subject to seat availability, if their train is affected by strike action.
• How to request a refund:
  • Through our official webform available on the Trenitalia website, for ticketless tickets.
  • At the biglietterie.
  • By contacting the Call Center for tickets purchased online, via app or directly by phone at the numbers 892021 for Trenitalia and 892020 for Italo

The reaction of the political world

The strike of December 13th has generated strong reactions from the Government, with strong statements from figures such as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Matteo Salvini, and the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi.

Matteo Salvini expressed his opposition to the length of the strike, threatening to adopt precepts to limit its effects, which he actually did by reducing the strike to 4 hours.
Promising to intervene to reduce inconvenience for citizens during the Christmas period.

The right to strike will be guaranteed, but not for 24 hours and not in the face of everyone. They are exaggerating

Matteo Piantedosi stressed the importance of the right to strike, but warned of the risks of a improper use, highlighting the need to balance workers' rights with those of citizens.

The strike is one of the noblest institutions of democratic systems.

The TAR of Lazio has annulled the requisition of Minister Salvini since it violated the right to strike, thus reinstating the 24-hour strike as initially planned.