Italy’s biggest union has added a general strike to an already crowded weekend. On 17 October, CGIL leader Maurizio Landini told a rally in Rome that the union would hold a national general strike on Friday 20 November. It now sits in the transport ministry’s official strike register alongside rail and air traffic control stoppages running into Sunday.
What’s happening
The ministry’s register lists these actions, all shown as scheduled as of 23 October:
- Friday 20 November, general strike. Called by CGIL for the full working day, covering public and private sectors. Press reports link it to the government’s budget plans, low wages and job insecurity.
- Friday 20 to Saturday 21 November, rail. CUB Trasporti and SGB Ferrovie have called rail staff out from 21:00 on Friday to 20:00 on Saturday, freight included. On Saturday the action also covers the full shift at some local transport operators.
- Saturday 21 November, air traffic control. FILT-CGIL and UGL-TA have called a national four-hour strike by staff at ENAV, Italy’s air navigation service, from 13:00 to 17:00.
- Sunday 22 November, Milan Malpensa. A separate 24-hour ENAV strike at Malpensa, from 00:01 to 24:00.
- Sunday 22 November, Venice Marco Polo. A 24-hour strike by security staff from one contractor at the airport.
Italian strike calendars often change, and actions can be called off or postponed.
What it means for your weekend
Fridays and Sundays are when most weekend trips start and end, and this one has strikes on both. A Friday-evening train out of Milan, Rome or Florence is the most exposed plan, because the rail strike starts at 21:00 on top of the general strike. Saturday-afternoon flights could face delays or cancellations during the 13:00–17:00 air traffic control window. Sunday flights through Malpensa carry the most risk, and a Sunday departure from Venice may mean slower security checks.
In past national rail strikes, Trenitalia has guaranteed regional trains from 06:00 to 09:00 and 18:00 to 21:00. It has also published a list of long-distance Frecce and Intercity trains that still run. Check the arrangements for this strike closer to the date.
What to do
- Look at the ministry’s strike register (scioperi.mit.gov.it) in the week before you travel, and again the day before.
- Check your airline’s and Trenitalia’s or Italo’s travel alerts for cancelled or guaranteed services.
- If you have a choice, fly in on Thursday or out on Monday, or avoid Malpensa on Sunday 22 November.
- Allow extra time for airport transfers, as local buses and metros may be affected on Friday and Saturday.
Planning Italy this autumn? See our Rome, Milan and Florence guides, and more updates on our news page.
Sources
- Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, strike register (official): https://scioperi.mit.gov.it/mit2/public/scioperi
- Sky TG24, Landini announces the 20 November general strike (17 October 2026)
- SoldiOnline/ANSA, general strike announcement and reasons (17 October 2026)
- Studenti.it, November 2026 strike calendar (19 October 2026)
- SicurAuto, Trenitalia guaranteed bands in the February 2026 rail strike
