The European Transport Workers’ Federation is standing firmly with Italian Trade Unions as they warn that Italy’s Intercity train network is being put at risk. The ETF Railways Steering Committee has made clear that recent legislative changes threaten to fragment a vital national service, weaken territorial cohesion and undermine the rights and working conditions of the workers who keep the network running.
The ETF warns that dividing tenders into multiple lots will increase administrative costs, reduce the ability to plan services strategically and deepen geographical imbalances. Competitive tendering often shifts pressure onto workers rather than operators, with bidders tempted to cut labour costs to win contracts. Workers’ rights cannot be treated as an adjustment variable.
The ETF reiterates that railways deliver best when they operate as a cohesive network supported by skilled workers and stable public funding. We fully support the Italian Trade Unions in defending the Intercity service and resisting policies that prioritise ideology over service quality, territorial cohesion and fair working conditions.
Read the full statement of the ETF Railways Steering Committee.
Picture - Credit: Timothy A. Gonsalves
