After one round of strikes comes another. Italy is bracing for a fresh wave of industrial action in November 2026, which the Italian media are summarising under the term Novembre Nero (Black November). The centrepiece is the general strike called by the CGIL trade union for Friday, 20 November, which, according to Il Giornale, covers both public and private sectors, including contracted service providers. Running in parallel are strikes affecting rail, airports and local public transport, several of them in Milan, Naples, Bari and Venice. Following the October strike month, which saw two national general strikes, most recently the USI-CIT general strike on 30 October,the next major phase of industrial action is now under way.
20 November: CGIL general strike with Landini as driving force
The general strike on Friday, 20 November, was announced by Maurizio Landini, chairman of the CGIL, according to Soldionline, on 17 October 2026 at the "La Via Maestra" rally in Rome. Landini estimated the number of participants at the rally at more than 100,000, according to Soldionline. The strike covers, per Trend-online,both public and private sectors, including road haulage and logistics, and lasts 24 hours. Trend-online cites as reasons: inflation and the erosion of household purchasing power, rising energy costs, the government's economic policy decisions, military expenditure, the funding of healthcare and education, pension policy, and the overall tax burden. According to Soldionline, Landini called on the government to provide answers in light of the forthcoming budget proposals.
Rail strikes: Italo on 9 November, national rail strike 20/21 November
For rail staff at Italo, an eight-hour strike applies on Monday, 9 November, from 09:01 to 16:59; according to Quotidiano Motori, the action has been called by FILT-CGIL, FIT-CISL, UGL Ferrovieri, FAST-Confsal and ORSA Trasporti, and affects the whole of Italy. On the night of 10 to 11 November, FILT-CGIL is calling a strike in the freight sector at SBB Cargo Italia, running from 21:00 to 04:59 nationwide. Alongside the CGIL general strike, CUB Trasporti, together with SGB Ferrovie, is calling a 23-hour rail and freight rail strike from Friday, 20 November at 21:00 to Saturday, 21 November at 20:00. Passengers are advised to check the guaranteed service times on regional routes, which apply on weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 and between 18:00 and 21:00, as well as the lists of guaranteed connections on the websites of the Italian Rail operators check.
Airports and airlines: 6 to 22 November
On Friday, 6 November, two strikes are running concurrently, according to Quotidiano Motori: ENAV staff at Bari airport will strike between 13:00 and 17:00, while easyJet cabin and cockpit crew will strike for 24 hours nationwide. Flights to and from Bari are not guaranteed between 13:00 and 16:59. On Saturday, 21 November, a four-hour ENAV strike is scheduled nationwide between 13:00 and 17:00. On Sunday, 22 November, FAST-CONFSAL-AV will bring ENAV staff at Milan Malpensa airport to a standstill for 24 hours, though flights to and from Bari are reported by Quotidiano Motori to remain guaranteed. On the same day, security staff employed by Sicuritalia IVRI (FISASCAT-CISL) at Venice Marco Polo airport will strike for 24 hours. According to Quotidiano Motori, the protected windows for passengers, as stipulated by ENAC, are between 07:00 and 10:00 and between 18:00 and 21:00.
Local transport: Milan, Naples, Bari, Venice
In Milan , on Friday, 13 November, the ATM group will strike for 24 hours in various forms, according to Quotidiano Motori. The action has been called by AL-COBAS with the support of CONFIAL, affecting the Metro, buses and trams. On the same day, SGB and FAST Mobilità will bring ATVO bus services in Venice to a halt for 24 hours. A day later, on Saturday, 14 November, Bari's local transport operator AMTAB will strike for the full day, called by FILT-CGIL, FIT-CISL, UILT-UIL and UGL Autoferrotranvieri. On Monday, 16 November, ANM in Naples will suspend public transport between 11:00 and 15:00, with FILT-CGIL, FIT-CISL, UILT-UIL, UGL-FNA and FAISA-CISAL all taking part.
Regional public transport on 21 November
On Saturday, 21 November, twelve regional public transport strikes are set to run simultaneously, according to Trend Online. Those affected include GTT in Turin, EAV in Campania, Ferrovie del Sud Est in Puglia, Trentino Trasporti in Trentino and Ferrovie della Calabria in Calabria , as well as further regional operators. Individual transport companies may publish differing minimum service timetables for the Saturday. Passengers in these regions are advised to check announcements from their respective operators before departing. As 21 November falls directly after the nationwide CGIL general strike the previous day, delays and additional disruptions may arise.
Outlook: next general strike on 4 December
The wave of strikes does not end with the close of the month. On Thursday, 4 December, a further general strike by the grassroots unions CUB, Unicobas and Sindacalismo di Base is expected, according to Quotidiano Motori. Rail services will be at a standstill from 21:00 on 3 December until 21:00 on 4 December, while motorway workers will strike from 22:00 on 3 December until 22:00 on 4 December. As of the reference date at the end of October, no details regarding air travel were yet available. This continues what has become an autumn of strikes, following the October wave of two national general strikes and twelve transport strikes, as well as the preceding September wave with nationwide rail disruptions continuing.
