News summary produced by Claude AI
Delivery platform workers in several Italian cities are staging strikes on Wednesday to protest working conditions during an intense heatwave. In Milan, riders employed by Glovo and Deliveroo plan to stop work during evening hours as part of their action. Similar stoppages are occurring in Bologna, where workers plan to switch off their apps and demonstrate downtown, and in Florence, where temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius this week.
The labor actions reflect broader concerns across Europe regarding worker safety in extreme heat. According to research by the European Trade Union Institute, approximately 130 million European workers face exposure to heat stress annually in workplace settings. Spain’s Andalusia region has seen similar complaints, with a union asserting that Glovo’s summer heat protocol provides insufficient protections when temperatures approach 45 degrees Celsius. In France, teachers’ unions last month encouraged members to exercise strike rights over working condition complaints in classrooms and during examinations, leading thousands of schools to close or modify schedules.
Milan authorities implemented regulations last month requiring digital delivery platform companies using bicycles to reduce or suspend deliveries between 12:30 and 16:00 until September 23. The rules also mandate providing water supplies, breaks, and refreshment areas on critical heat days. However, the Nildil Cgil trade union contends that companies must allocate resources to prevent workers from losing income during these restricted hours. Union spokesperson Andrea Bacchin emphasized the need for solutions from both employers and local officials that “protect their health without forcing them to lose wages.”
Florence and Tuscany have barred outdoor construction and agricultural work during the same afternoon window when heat stress risks are significant, though union representatives note many workers cannot afford to stop working during peak heat hours. Trade unions plan to discuss social safety net provisions with labor ministry officials in Rome on Thursday. Glovo has been contacted for comment regarding worker concerns in Spain and Italy, while JustEat stated its riders are not participating in the Milan strikes as discussions with local unions continue regarding targeted measures.