National Strike of Railway Staff after an Attack

Across Italy, railway staff from Trenitalia and its affiliates are participating in an eight-hour strike in response to a serious accident on a regional train. The strike, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., was called by the unions Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl, Uiltrasporti, Ugl Ferrovieri, Fast Confsal and Orsa Trasporti to demand greater safety measures.

The attack on the train conductor occurred while he was doing his job and sparked a strong reaction in the sector.

Accident Details

The serious incident occurred on regional train 12042 bound for Busalla. A 44-year-old train conductor was stabbed twice by a 21-year-old accompanied by a minor. The two attackers were immediately stopped by the Carabinieri. According to preliminary investigations, the attack arose from an argument between the victim and passengers. While checking tickets near the Genova Rivarolo station, the train conductor asked the couple to get off the train. At that moment, the young man pulled out a knife and seriously injured the worker. The train was promptly stopped to allow the arrival of rescuers. The train conductor was stabilized on site and subsequently transported in red code to the Villa Scassi hospital in Genoa. Fortunately, his conditions are not worrying since the blows did not hit vital organs.

Reactions and Perspectives

The response to the violence has raised major questions about rail safety. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini expressed solidarity with the striking workers and stressed the need to fight crime and illegal immigration, suggesting that these issues contribute to the violence on trains. The Strike Guarantee Commission asked the unions to reduce the duration of the protest, acknowledging the seriousness of the incident. However, the unions rejected this request, arguing that downplaying the importance of the attack would be irresponsible towards workers and travellers. With this strike, railway workers want to highlight the serious safety gaps and demand concrete measures to ensure the protection of staff and passengers in the future. The mobilization is a crucial step towards greater awareness of the daily challenges faced by transport workers.