5 Killed in Italy Train Accident, Workers to Strike

Italy’s railway maintenance workers are set to hold a half-day national strike on 1 September after five railway workers were killed in an accident on the night of 30 August.

Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), the Italian railway infrastructure manager and the subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), said that five railway maintenance workers died after being run over and hit by a train in Brandizzo, the line connecting Milan and Turin. The victims were reportedly replacing a stretch of track at around midnight on Wednesday when the tragic incident took place. They were reportedly working for external contractor company Sigifer.

Matteo Salvini, the Vice President of the Council of Ministers and the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of Italy, said that his ministry started an investigation to know how the tragic incident happened. The investigation was also started by qualified and certified external companies. 

Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, expressed her deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini and other politicians also expressed sadness over the incident. Rete Ferroviaria Italiana also extended its condolences and closeness to the families of the victims. 

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Massacre has to stop immediately

Maurizio Landini, the Secretary-General of the Italian General Confederation of Labour, announced the strike for Friday. He said that many Italian workers at work died because of inadequate safety procedures.

Maurizio Landini said, “Indignation and condolences are no longer enough. This massacre has to stop immediately.” He further said, “Too many tragedies at work are caused by lowering safety standards.”

The Italian trade unionist said that the railway workers also planned further stoppages on Monday over the recent tragic accident. 

According to reports and witnesses, when the recent accident took place, two Italian railway workers were able to avoid the train. The train driver suffered injuries and was treated for shock at the scene.

However, the other five workers died because of the accident. The victims were between the ages of 22 and 52. 

Strike announced by unions

Italy’s transport unions said that various Italian trade unions would go on a strike on 1 September over the death of the five railway workers. Some employees of RFI would also go on strike for the last four hours of the daily service on Friday.

Italy’s transport unions slammed repeated accidents taking place on railway stations. They also demanded justice for the workers who got killed during train accidents.