Transport strikes in Europe and where to expect potential disruptions
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
European transport strikes are becoming a regular occurrence as workers push for better conditions and wages. However, passengers often find themselves having to alter their travel plans due to flight cancellations or rescheduling.
Below are the latest updates on upcoming strikes across Europe, citing euronews.travel.
In the United Kingdom, localized strikes by transport workers are scheduled for April. For instance, on April 10-11, staff from the London Underground's support services are set to strike, potentially leading to station closures. On April 13, RMT union protests will affect CrossCountry rail services. From April 15 to 20, ASLEF union strikes will impact Northern rail services. And on April 20, an ASLEF strike will disrupt LNER trains.
However, the strike planned by Heathrow Airport control staff for April 11-14 has been called off to allow for further negotiations.
In Italy, the two largest unions have announced a strike on April 11, affecting railways and other public transport services. Demonstrations regarding working conditions will last for 4 hours at various times across the country. Passengers should note that employees of the state railway company Ferrovie dello Stato, which includes Trenitalia, will strike from 9:00 to 13:00.
In France, members of the CGT-RATP union have declared a strike from February 5 to September 9. This could disrupt bus and metro services in the Île-de-France region, particularly during the summer Olympics. However, there's a bill being considered in parliament to ban transport strikes during certain periods each year to prevent disruptions during major events.
In Germany, there are currently no planned strikes. On March 25, the Deutsche Bahn railway company reached an agreement with the German train drivers' union, GDL. The agreement stipulates that GDL will refrain from striking at least until February 2026. The German union Verdi has also reached agreements on pay and canceled strikes at various German airports.
