In brief
Delivery riders in Italy are striking on Wednesday in response to the country’s worst summer heatwave. In Milan, city authorities have limited bicycle deliveries during the hottest hours, but riders claim the regulations still expose them to dangerous temperatures without protecting wages. The strike in Bologna and Florence includes a city‑wide demo and work stoppage, illustrating that the issue is spread across the continent, with similar protests in Spain and France. European unions argue that 130 million workers face heat stress annually, calling for stronger safety nets and employer‑government collaboration. The unions are set to discuss new measures with the labour ministry in Rome, underscoring the growing urgency of climate‑aware labour policy.
Delivery riders are striking in several Italian cities on Wednesday, calling for better working conditions and protection from the extreme summer heat.
In Milan, city authorities restrict bicycle‑based deliveries between 12:30 and 16:00 during the hottest part of the day until the end of September. However, riders working for Glovo and Deliveroo are still halting their evening shift to demand both wage safeguards and health provisions.
The strike in Bologna involves deactivating delivery apps and holding a demonstration in the city centre, while in Florence riders and other workers will stop for several hours as temperatures are forecast to hit 40 °C.
Across Europe, the heat has become a recurring theme: research by the European Trade Union Institute estimates that 130 million workers are exposed to heat stress each year, and unions in Spain and France have urged stronger safety measures and even threatened industrial action.
Unions in Italy are scheduled to meet labour‑ministry officials in Rome on Thursday to discuss social safety nets and enforce robust employer‑side measures, while justExpress and other companies are negotiating with local unions to devise tailored solutions for high‑temperature work.
