Public-transport operator Autolinee Toscane confirmed a 24-hour strike for Sunday, 14 June, after talks with the Cobas Lavoro Privato union collapsed. The action affects the entire Florence area, with guaranteed services only before 04:15, between 08:14-12:30 and from 14:29 until end of service, as required by Italian strike law. Although regional trains will run normally, the walk-out risks stranding cruise passengers transferring from Livorno and Pisa airports to Florence hotels, as well as hundreds of Erasmus students scheduled to arrive for summer language programmes. Travel-management companies have advised clients to switch to taxi or car-hire solutions, warning of surge pricing and limited availability because the action coincides with peak weekend tourism. Hotels around Santa Maria Novella report increased requests for early check-in from guests arriving on morning trains who cannot access local buses. Autolinee Toscane says salary alignment with other regional operators and improved break facilities are key bargaining points. If unresolved, further 24-hour strikes could occur in July, coinciding with major trade events like Pitti Filati. Employers with short-term assignees in Florence are urged to budget extra travel time and to remind staff that tickets purchased for disrupted journeys remain valid on the first available service after the strike.
Source: Sciopero.net
