Italian rail workers will walk off the job for eight hours on Friday 14 April as part of an ongoing dispute with state-owned rail operator Trenitalia over working conditions.

The national eight-hour strike, from 9:01 to 16:59, has been jointly called by some of Italy’s largest labour unions, including Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl, Uiltrasporti, Ugl Ferrovieri, Orsa Ferrovie and Fast Confsal, which represent rail workers as well as catering and cleaning staff.

In a joint statement the unions said working conditions have worsened since the pandemic and that the rail operator has “ignored” previous requests to review work timetables and staff shortages.

They went on to say that a “serious confrontation” is necessary in order to resolve the “critical” issues faced by Trenitalia workers who, for the past three years, “have worked with commitment, professionalism and at the risk of personal safety” during the pandemic.

As per Italian law, Trenitalia will continue to operate minimum levels of essential services during the strike.

Italy’s upcoming rail strike is the latest in a series of industrial actions that have crippled domestic and regional travel across Europe in recent weeks, including widespread transport strikes in Germany and France that affected both air and rail connections, and earlier rail strikes in the UK, which saw 40,000 members of the RMT union walk out in January.

Further travel disruption is expected in the UK next week as British Airways looks to cancel up to 30 flights per day at London Heathrow due to a 10-day strike by security guards.