National General Strike on March 8: A Comprehensive Overview

March 8 strike. Today, the national general strike is planned, which will affect both public sector workers and those in the private sector. Those who use services such as schools and hospitals must pay maximum attention. Transportation has been excluded following an intervention by the Strike Guarantee Authority, but there will also be inconveniences here because an autonomous union has declared abstention (read the special information sheet on transportation). The Abruzzo region, given the imminent elections, should suffer less: this was recommended by the same Guarantor. Rome, in procession for March 8: streets closed and buses diverted from the Center to Trastevere. Tomorrow the general strike. Why March 8 The strike on March 8 is for the cause of women's rights (the stop is called by the association One Less which fights to eradicate the scourge of femicide) but also for the minimum wage, differentiated autonomy, the dismantling of the welfare state, and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine. The mobilization has been proclaimed by a large number of Italian trade union organizations, such as Flc CGIL, Slai Cobas, Adl Cobas, Cobas Usb, Cobas Sub, Osp Faisa Cisal, Usi Cit, Clap, Si Cobas, Cub Trasporti, Uitrasporti, Usi 1912, Flaei Cisl, and Uiltec Uil. In many Italian cities, there will be parades, demonstrations, and sit-ins. In Rome, the procession will start at 10 from the Circus Maximus. The transport sector The transport sectors will be excluded from the general strikes proclaimed for March 8 by Usb, Cub, Adl Cobas, Usi 1912, and Usi Cit. This was announced by the Strike Guarantee Commission in a note. "With reference to the general strikes proclaimed for March 8, 2024, by Slai Cobas for the Class Union, Usb, Cub, Adl Cobas, Usi 1912, and Usi Cit for International Women's Day, the Strike Guarantee Commission has reported to the trade union organizations Usb, Cub, Adl Cobas, Usi 1912, and Usi Cit irregularities, concerning, in particular, the passenger transport sector (air, rail, maritime, and local public), in application of resolution 22/22 of February 8, 2022, which prohibits concentration in general strikes," the Commission explains. "Following these reports," it continues, "the aforementioned transport sectors will be affected exclusively by the strike proclaimed by the Slai Cobas union for the Class Union and not by the other trade union organizations." Furthermore, the Commission has invited the proclaiming unions to exclude, limited to the Abruzzo Region, interested in the electoral consultations of March 10, 2024, the sectors: Regional Autonomies Local, Local Public Transport, Environmental Hygiene, Telecommunications, Electricity, Energy and Petroleum, Gas-Water, Funeral, Ministries, Maritime Transport, Firefighters, Helicopters, and Fuels. Traveling by train Therefore, those traveling are not exempt from possible inconveniences. Trenitalia warns that from midnight on March 8 to 9:00 PM, an autonomous trade union has proclaimed a national general strike of the FS Group, Trenitalia, and Trenitalia Tper personnel. During the strike, the operation of national trains listed in the special tables of trains to be ensured in case of trade union protest will be guaranteed, as well as regional trains in the commuter bands (6:00-9:00 AM and 6:00-9:00 PM), which can be consulted in the Guaranteed Trains in case of strike section of the Trenitalia website. Trenord has also joined the strike. Here is the list of guaranteed trains. The trade union agitation may cause changes to the service even before its start and after its conclusion. Information on connections and services is available through the Trenitalia app, the Infomobility section of trenitalia.com, the trenitaliatper.it website, the free toll-free number 800 89 20 21, as well as at ticket offices and customer assistance presences in stations. Healthcare As for healthcare, the agitation will be from start to finish of the shift. All essential minimum services provided for the sector, such as the emergency room, will be guaranteed as always, and regarding activities connected to direct patient care, priority will be given to emergencies and the care of the most serious and non-dischargeable patients. Firefighters A different time, however, for the Firefighters: the strike will take place from 9 AM to 1 PM for shift personnel and the entire day for daily or administrative personnel. School As for the school, the agitation will affect all personnel of the sector and the education and research area, university professors, and personnel of professional training of non-state schools. Highways As for the highway sector, the stop is scheduled for the entire day of Friday, March 8, for 24 hours, with the possible stop expected from 10 PM on March 7 to 10 PM the following day, excluding the Abruzzo region. Guaranteed are the minimum levels of essential public service and therefore the continuity of the service of the information radio center, road assistants, facility management, emergency maintenance. Public offices and museums The general strike on March 8 will also affect the public sector with possible inconveniences in public offices, museums, libraries.