Key facts
- Delivery riders in Milan, Bologna, and Florence are striking.
- The strikes are in response to intense summer heat and demands for better working conditions.
- Milan authorities have limited deliveries during the hottest hours of the day.
- Unions are seeking measures to protect riders' health without impacting their wages.
- Similar concerns about heat stress are being raised by workers in Spain and France.
Delivery riders across several Italian cities are set to strike on Wednesday, protesting intense summer heat and demanding improved working conditions, including protections for their wages and health. In Milan, authorities have already implemented restrictions on deliveries during the peak heat hours until September. Riders for platforms like Glovo and Deliveroo plan evening stoppages in Milan, while similar demonstrations and app-free periods are scheduled in Bologna and Florence, where temperatures are expected to reach 40C.
The issue of heat stress in the workplace is a growing concern across Europe. Research indicates that approximately 130 million European workers face heat stress annually. In Spain, a union in Andalusia has criticized Glovo's summer protocols as insufficient amid temperatures nearing 45C. French teachers' unions also recently highlighted working condition issues related to high temperatures.
Milan's authorities have mandated that bicycle-based delivery services reduce or suspend operations between 12:30 and 16:00, and ensure water supplies and breaks on critical days. However, the Nildil Cgil trade union argues that companies must provide resources to prevent riders from losing income. Spokesman Andrea Bacchin stated that solutions are needed from both companies and Milan's prefect to protect health without wage loss. In Florence and Tuscany, outdoor work on construction sites and in agriculture is barred during the hottest hours, but union officials note that many workers cannot afford to stop working.
Discussions regarding social safety nets for workers are planned between union officials and labor ministry representatives in Rome on Thursday. JustEat has indicated that its riders are not participating in the current strikes, as the company is engaged in discussions with local unions to implement necessary measures.