by InTrieste
Passengers traveling in Italy on Friday, Oct. 16, could face flight delays and cancellations as EasyJet pilots and cabin crew stage a 24-hour strike, alongside work stoppages at airports in Tuscany.
The national walkout is scheduled to run from midnight to 11:59 p.m. and was called by USB Lavoro Privato, the private-sector division of the Unione Sindacale di Base union, according to the Transport Ministry’s strike calendar.
Workers at Toscana Aeroporti, GH Toscana and Consulta, which operate at Pisa and Florence airports, are also expected to strike. Employees of Poste Air Cargo are taking part in separate industrial action.
Dispute Over Contract Renewal
The EasyJet strike stems from a company contract renewal signed on Sept. 15. A consultation of pilots and cabin crew organized by other unions backed the agreement, but USB questioned the process, saying the results were published late and that its request to observe the vote had been rejected.
In a statement published on Oct. 6, USB said 45 percent of employees were seeking different union representation. The union also argued that the agreement weakened workers’ entitlement to a 13th-month salary, known in Italy as the tredicesima, which it said employees had secured through the courts.
USB described the pay increases as limited and said that much of the back pay owed for the period without a contract had effectively been offset by 13th-month salary payments.
The union identified Cgil, Cisl, Uil, Ugl Trasporto Aereo and Anpac as the organizations that announced the consultation results. It said the dispute also concerned union representation and workplace democracy, and confirmed that the strike would proceed following employee assemblies.
Which Flights Are Protected?
Under Italian regulations governing air transport strikes, flights scheduled during two protected periods are expected to operate: from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The extent of disruption will depend on how many employees participate. Not all EasyJet flights are necessarily expected to be canceled, and individual services may be changed as the strike approaches.
Passengers are advised to check their flight status with EasyJet and consult the departure and arrival airports before traveling. Under European Union passenger-rights rules, travelers whose flights are canceled may be entitled to rerouting or a refund, subject to the applicable conditions.
For official information about planned industrial action, consult the Transport Ministry’s strike calendar.
