Sciopero

Sciopero was a word I learnt very quickly post arrival in Italy.  It is a common occurrence here and usually results in my plans being messed around but two weeks ago the sciopero was on my side.  It was a beautiful sunny, warm autumn day and the 3 hour sciopero meant that instead of spending my morning in the industrial wasteland that I’m currently teaching in I could enjoy the glorious weather and spend my morning looking at ducks with young P and his dad. 

Sciopero is a strike and is something that occurs with frustrating regularity here – usually once a month and usually on a Monday or Friday (not that I want to read anything into the adding of a day of industrial action next to the weekend.)  Not being used to so many strikes I was never aware of them until I rocked up to the train station ready for an adventure only to have my plans thwarted.  After one too many cancelled journey I now I keep an eye and an ear out for announcements – especially as I am currently to commuting to work again. 

Unions are much stronger here than in the UK or Australia and it often seems as if everyone belongs to one.  I’m a great believer in the union movement and would never argue against the right to strike.  And I’m not going to make what would be an ill informed, superficial and ultimately pretty glib account of the situation here (hell I’ve got plenty of other things to be ill informed about) but I do wonder why this country has so many strikes. 

Having been here for a while now and seen so many strikes I wonder if a strike has entered the everyday of the Italian experience.  They seem such a normal part of life that you wouldn't even think of asking what issues people are striking over.

This strike was called to protest against austerity measures but that morning as some people gathered in the main piazza for speeches I couldn’t help noticing that the bars where unusually full of people drinking spritz.  But I’m just an observer and no way near qualified to really comment of such things. 

As I left work today I was told that I may have trouble getting into work tomorrow, when I asked why?  The reply came “didn’t anyone tell you?  There’s a strike.”