Commuters in Italy will be hit with widespread delays on buses, trains, trams and metro lines on Friday (16 September) after 10 trade unions representing public transport staff called for an eight-hour national strike.

The strike action is in response to “violent and repeated attacks” on drivers, controllers and station heads in recent months.

In a joint statement on Tuesday a number of Italy’s biggest trade unions – Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl, Uiltrasporti, Faisa Cisal and Ugl Autoferro – said the “intolerable situation” required immediate action. 

“To date, no intervention has been recorded to protect personnel by employers or even by the legislator with specific measures addressed to prevent and discourage attacks on public transport personnel. Immediate measures are required,” the unions said.

The strike will likely occur from 8:30 to 16:30, however this is expected to differ slightly according to region. In the Lazio region, home of capital city Rome, and Emilia-Romagna, home to cities such as Bologna and Ferrara, the strike will take place between 8.30 and 16.30. In Milan, transport will grind to a halt between 8.45 and 15:00, and in Naples, transport staff will walk off the job from 9.00 until 17.00.

As per Italian law, national rail operator Trenitalia will continue to operate minimum levels of essential services during labour actions.

According to local news reports, as many as 17 assaults on public transport staff have been recorded in recent months. The latest attack saw a Milan metro operator head-butted in the nose after asking a passenger for a ticket.

The public transport strike is the latest industrial action to disrupt travellers in Italy, following a 24-hour strike by airport ground staff on 12 September.