Rome - In the middle of the peak phase of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Italian air traffic is facing a massive wave of work stoppages. The industry's leading trade unions have officially confirmed that they will stick to the planned strike dates of February 16 and March 7. This decision comes despite the express request of the national strike supervisory authority to postpone the protests due to the major international event.
Wage dispute affects major international events
The background to the employee representatives' tough stance is the stalled negotiations on the renewal of the national framework collective agreements and specific company agreements. According to a joint statement by the trade unions Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl, Uiltrasporti and other associations, many agreements have already expired months ago. The companies are accused of not listening to the legitimate demands of the employees and not offering acceptable conditions for an extension. A short-term concession or postponement of the protests is therefore impossible under the current circumstances.
The situation is particularly volatile as Italy is currently in the global spotlight. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are attracting thousands of athletes and fans who are dependent on a functioning flight service.
Harsh criticism from Transport Minister Salvini
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini reacted with harsh words to the confirmation of the strikes. He described the unions„ actions as “irresponsible„ and “anti-Italian". He said it was absurd to want to block air traffic at the very moment when the world was looking at Milan and Cortina with admiration. According to Salvini, this is an affront to citizens and athletes alike. The ministry has now summoned the union leaders to a crisis summit in Rome in order to force a last-minute solution and avert the threat of travel chaos.
Consumer advocates have also expressed their concerns. While the workers' demands are generally recognized as legitimate, the Codacons association warns of immense economic damage. Many Olympic visitors could be left with the cost of flights and accommodation, as tickets for the Games are often non-refundable.
