May 17 Train Strike Postponed: The Reasons

Saturday, May 17, 2025 was circled in red on the calendar of the railway sector unions, ready to cross their arms at a national level. But the whistle remained in the pocket: the strike was postponed at the last moment, following a heated confrontation between institutions and workers' representatives.

A balanced choice, more political than logistical, dictated by the urgency of avoiding chaos on the rails on a weekend already congested by three weighty events: the inaugural mass of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV , the final stages of the Internazionali Bnl d'Italia at the Foro Italico and the fans' assault on the Imola Grand Prix . A triptych of a packed house that was expected, which forced everyone to pause for reflection.

Train strike 17 May 2025: official postponement after talks between unions and institutions

The press release arrived late yesterday afternoon, May 13. The mobilization has been postponed: no strike on Saturday May 17 , postponed to the following Friday , May 23. The Guarantee Commission had put the request in writing, and the unions agreed. Usb, Sgb and the National Assembly Pdm/Pdb signed the postponement, without taking their helmets off their desks.

Why the train strike on Saturday 17 May has been postponed

This is not a matter of indulgence, nor of disarmament. The decision arises from the need not to send a railway system into a tailspin that, under normal conditions, struggles to handle the traffic of any given Saturday.

Imagine when there are three events of international importance on the table, with tourist flows from half of Europe. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has made it known that the postponement is the result of a "positive and constructive" dialogue, an expression that usually preludes nothing, but this time it had a tangible effect: regular trains, at least for this weekend.

Trains guaranteed for the Pope's mass, the International Tennis Championships and the Imola GP

St. Peter's Square will host the first Mass of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV , and estimates speak of 250,000 people arriving, including official delegations, civil and religious authorities, and quite a few pilgrims.

In the meantime, in Rome, the finals of the Internazionali Bnl d'Italia are taking place, attracting tennis fans and professionals from all over the world.

In Imola , the Made in Italy and Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix is ​​being held, and the stands are already sold out. In that context, a strike would have caused perhaps too many inconveniences, with the concrete risk of backfiring on those who had called it.

New Rail Strike Dates: When Trains Stop

The new appointment is for Friday , May 23, from 1:00 to 23:59 . A carefully chosen Friday, to keep the pressure high but without triggering the panic of the weekend. The minimum services will be guaranteed, as per the regulations, but the rest risks running in fits and starts. For commuters, it will be yet another exercise in patience; for the unions, an opportunity to get back to harping on their demands.

The reasons for the protest of railway workers

The reasons for the protest are well-known and well-established. At the top of the list is the national collective agreement , which has remained at a standstill. Next comes the issue of union representation, which has been absent for over seven years, and a negotiation that, in the eyes of the strike's promoters, is dragging on wearily and self-referentially. It's not just about wages, but about access to the negotiating table and recognition of the demands coming from the base.

In a joint statement, Usb and allied acronyms speak of a "responsible gesture" in postponing the mobilization, but firmly claim the need for a change of pace. The accusations are not thrown to the wind: according to the promoters, alternative union platforms are systematically ignored, even when they gather high levels of support. The strike, barring surprises, has simply been postponed by a few days.