General Strike Called Unlawful by Italian Watchdog Over Lack of Notice

Rome: Friday’s general strike called by left-wing trade union federation CIGL and grass-roots trade union USB over Gaza is unlawful because no notice was given, Italy’s strike watchdog said Thursday.

According to Ansa News Agency, the Strike Guarantee Commission deemed the general strike called for October 3 unlawful, citing a violation of the legal requirement of notice as stipulated by Law 146/90. The commission’s statement clarified that the unions’ reference to Article 2, paragraph 7-which allows for strikes without notice only in specific cases such as defending the constitutional order or in response to serious threats to worker safety-was considered irrelevant in this instance.

The Authority has issued an immediate warning to the unions, emphasizing that non-compliance could lead to the initiation of a behavior evaluation procedure. The watchdog’s decision underscores the importance of adhering to legal protocols surrounding strike actions in Italy, particularly the requirement of proper notice to avoid potential disruptions and legal repercussions.