by InTrieste
Train and bus cancellations, delayed services, interrupted classes, and postponed non-urgent medical procedures are expected across Friuli Venezia Giulia on Friday as part of a nationwide general strike. The strike, called by Italy’s largest labor union, CGIL, and the grassroots union USB, involves both public and private sectors.
Union leaders said the walkout was organized not only over labor-related concerns but also in protest of the recent attack on civilian ships headed toward Gaza. “The assault on vessels carrying citizens is extremely serious,” said Michele Piga, regional secretary of CGIL FVG. He criticized the Italian government for failing to protect Italian workers in international waters, calling it a violation of constitutional principles.
Demonstrations Across the Region
The strike is being accompanied by a series of demonstrations. On Thursday evening, healthcare workers staged pro-Palestinian flash mobs at more than 100 hospitals nationwide, including facilities in Trieste, Gorizia, Monfalcone, Udine, Pordenone, and San Vito al Tagliamento.
Friday’s main rally in Trieste is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Giardino Pubblico in Via Giulia and end in Piazza Oberdan, with students and university groups joining alongside CGIL members. USB has also called for a gathering at 9:30 a.m. at Gate 4 of the city’s port. Other protests are planned in Pordenone, Monfalcone, and Udine.
Transport and Public Services
The strike began Thursday night, with railway workers walking off the job at 9 p.m. and highway staff following at 10 p.m. Local public transportation will be affected on Friday, though minimum service will be guaranteed during peak travel hours.
In Trieste, buses will run between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. In Gorizia and Udine, guaranteed service will be provided between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and from noon to 3 p.m. In Pordenone, urban services will operate between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., while extra-urban routes will be active from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Firefighters are scheduled to strike from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for shift workers, while administrative and day staff are expected to stop work for the full day. In the healthcare sector, the strike will run from the start of the first shift to the end of the last.
The national strike is expected to cause widespread disruption throughout Italy, with Friuli Venezia Giulia bracing for a day of significant slowdowns in transport, education, and healthcare services.
