"Die from Heat or Starve": Amid Unprecedented Heatwave and Delivery Ban, Italian Riders Go on Strike

Delivery Suspended During Heatwave Hours... Nationwide Strike by Riders
"Delivery Workers Should Not Bear the Cost of Climate Change"

Delivery workers in Italy have launched a nationwide strike, calling for both their health and income to be guaranteed during the ongoing heatwave.

"Lives of Riders Threatened If Deliveries Are Halted"

The photo is unrelated to any specific expression in the article. Pixabay

According to ANSA News Agency on July 15 (local time), the Italian riders' unions at food delivery platforms such as Glovo, Deliveroo, and Just Eat are holding strikes on this day in cities across Italy, including Milan and Florence.

Recently, Italy has seen a series of heatwave warnings, which have disrupted outdoor work such as delivery services. In response, authorities in some regions, including Milan, have ordered a halt to food deliveries and other outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day.

The unions agreed that these measures are intended to protect workers’ health. However, they argued that if deliveries are suspended due to the heatwave, the livelihoods of riders could be threatened.

Accordingly, the unions emphasized the need for institutional safeguards and a social safety net for riders, so that their income is preserved even if they cannot work because of the heat. The unions stated, “Delivery workers should not be the ones to bear the cost of climate change,” and “Suspension of deliveries should not lead to financial loss for workers.”

Italy’s Red Alert for Heatwaves Expected to Expand

As the heatwave continues in Europe, children are cooling off by playing in the water. Photo by AFP News Agency

Meanwhile, the heatwave continues in Italy this week. On this day, red alert warnings for extreme heat have been issued in seven cities, and this is expected to expand to 15 cities on July 16. The heatwave warnings in Italy are divided into three levels based on temperature: Level 1 (Yellow Alert), Level 2 (Orange Alert), and the highest Level 3 (Red Alert). This summer, at least seven people in Italy have died as a result of the heatwave.

This European heatwave appears to be caused by an "Omega Block" heat dome phenomenon. This occurs when a high-pressure area is situated between two low-pressure areas, resembling the Greek letter Omega (Ω). It blocks the jet stream, causing hot air to remain trapped over one region for an extended period.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.