Strike and blockade action in Sicily

A strike and blockade action started on 16 January by the association representing Sicilian truck drivers (Associazione Imprese Autotrasportatori Siciliani) and soon collected support and spread among fishermen, farmers, builders, unemployed and other categories. The action is now called "Operazione Vespri Siciliani". Sicilian Vespers was a rebellion that broke out on the Easter of 1282 against the rule of the French/Angevin king Charles I (curiously, "operazione vespri siciliani" was also the name of a year long police operation against the Mafia during the Nineties). Its rallying cry is "Fermo Sicilia" (Sicily Blockade). The protest has been organized by the variegated "Movimento dei Forconi" (Pitchforks Movement) and it is intended to last until January 20, and possibly more if their demands are not answered.

The Sicilian truck drivers blocked entrances and exits of the ports in Pozzallo and Catania and roads and motorways in Palermo, other groups and citizens have occupied railways and started several parades on the island. The main asset blocked is the fuel traffic from the island refineries: in Sicily 50% of Italian fuel is produced. On the 17th, the second day of protests, fuel shortage was spreading, mostly in the island's big towns. In Gela, the blockade gained the solidarity of the refinery workers, who joined the protest demanding jobs and investment. The protest has been mainly non-violent, although there have been some incidents: in Lentini a stallholder stabbed a protester in an attempt to break a block and in Santa Flavia a train almost caused a massacre at an occupied railstation (luckily, no one was injured). Fearing goods shortages, supermarket have been overcrowded for days, as with the fuel stations. Some ships had to stay in the ports because of the truckers strike. Latest news report of the protest and blockade spreading to the near Calabria. There are no reported clashes with police.

"The protest will continue until Friday. The mobilization is growing and now involves farmers and fishermen in addition to the teamsters. We did not expect so many to join, but their organization was spontaneous". The leader of the protesting teamsters AIAS, Giuseppe Richichi continued saying that the movement now counts on the farmers of the Movimento dei Forconi and the fishermen of several districts. Long queues are forming at the gas stations and the supermarkets start to show empty shelves.

Source: strugglesinitaly.wordpress.com / agi.it