This year, at Christmas, some travelers will not be able to take their train at French stations due to the controllers’ strike. However, the strike notice was lifted for the New Year. A very different situation to Italy… where strikes are prohibited during the holidays. Here, there are no stoppages at Christmas, during the holidays or at peak hours: under a 1990 law, the right to strike is strictly regulated in transalpine transport to guarantee a minimum service to users.
Italy has defined specific periods in the year in which it is not possible to strike in transport. On and back déjà the fiestas de fin d’année between December 17 and January 7, c’est-à-dire de Noël à l’Épiphanie, even if the cells of Pâques (five days ahead and the five days after Sunday Easter). No strike or during the summer holidays (from June 27 to July 4 and from July 28 to September 3) and during All Saints’ Day (from October 30 to November 5).
7am-10am and 6pm-9pm
Italian law also ensures the electoral calendar: the days of national, regional and European elections, as well as the three days before and after, are excluded from strikes, as are referendums. In the case of local elections, the previous day, the same day and the following day are affected by this prohibition. In addition, the strike notice must be submitted at least ten days before the start of the strike, compared to five days in France.
Users must be informed at least five days before the strike of the state of traffic and the services that will be available. In addition, during a social movement, transport is guaranteed no matter what happens at peak times, in the morning between 7 and 10 a.m. and in the afternoon between 6 and 9 p.m. And a user must always be able to get from point A to point B: if the railway workers are on strike, for example, the airport staff cannot disassociate themselves.
Health, education, energy
These are both public and private companies, an important point in Italy, where openness to competition has taken the lead. In addition, the train is not the only one: there is also air transport, urban transport and maritime transport. Et, au-delà des transports, le droit de grève est encadré pour l’ensemble des “services publics essentials”, like la santé, la securité, l’éducation, la justice, les télécommunications, l’eau, l’énergie ou waste.
The idea of the Italian law is to reconcile the right to strike and the maintenance of public services. An independent commission (its members are appointed by the President of the Republic) is responsible for monitoring social movements and maintaining a minimum service. In case of non-compliance with the rules, the unions incur economic sanctions, such as the suspension of their public financing. Strikers also risk individual financial penalties.
Source: BFM TV
