Having reached his fifth reincarnation (in the same body, unfortunately for him), Giulio Andreotti once said that: "It may well be a sin to think the worst of people, but so often it turns out to be true ". When I announced the scheduled date for the 5-Star Woodstock event, I heard a little voice inside me, warning me about the boycotting culture that has become as regular as clockwork here in Italy. I was not in the least surprised, therefore, when I discovered that, TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE, the Government Railways trade unions have announced a 24-hour strike that (purely coincidentally you understand) just happens to coincide perfectly, thanks to geometric trade union power, with the commencement and the ending of the 5-Star Woodstock event, namely from the evening of Saturday 25 September to the evening of Sunday 26 September. So, as of now, I’m want to invite all of the train drivers, inspectors, chief inspectors and hostesses who will be free of all work commitments on that weekend to come along and join us at the demonstration event in Cesena. I have always loved trains and during the course of this event, in between the appearance of one band and the next, we will also be discussing the future of public transport in this Country.
I’m as happy as a Tibetan monk prior to the advent of Maoism. I am fully expecting strikes throughout the entire public transport sector at the end of September, and indeed even the total paralysis of the Country. This is one of those occasions on which I often ask myself questions about life in general, and today’s nagging thought that I just can’t seem to shake off is: "To whom are the trade unions ultimately accountable? To D'Alema, or perhaps to Bersani?".
It’s going to be an absolute mission to get to Cesena, an obstacle course if you will, because these guys will try anything. So come on foot, by bicycle, in campers, in caravans, in tour busses organised by the Meet Up groups, in car pools, on motorcycles or even on horseback. All roads will lead to Cesena on 25 and 26 September 2010. Thirty bands and musicians have already agreed to be there and in the coming days I will be introducing them to you one by one. The event will kick off on the Saturday evening and it’s going to be two days off music and talking about the future. We will be talking about politics, not about politicians. "But meanwhile the locomotive runs, runs, runs, with steam whistling it almost seems to be alive" Francesco Guccini. They may never give up (is it in their interests?), but neither will we.

From the Ministry of Public Transport and Infrastructure:
"RAILWAYS SECTOR: TRAIN DRIVERS AND ON-BOARD STAFF OF TRENITALIA
Strike timing: 24 HOUR STRIKE FROM 21h00 ON 25/9 TO 21h00 ON 26/9"
Anyone wanting more information on the strike can send an e-mail to: relazionisindacali@mit.gov.it

Previous postings on the 5-Star Woodstock event:
- Appeal for 5-Star Woodstock - 7 July 2010
- 5-Star Woodstock at Cesena - 23 July 2010