Huge Dock Worker Protests In Italy, Fears Of Disruption, As Covid ‘Green Pass’ Takes Effect
Following Israel across the Mediterranean being the first country in the world to implement an internal Covid passport allowing only vaccinated citizens to engage in all public activity, Italy on Friday implemented its own ‘Green Pass’ in the strictest and first such move for Europe.
The fully mandatory for every Italian citizen health pass “allows” entry into work spaces or activities like going to restaurants and bars, based on one of the following three conditions that must be met:
- proof of at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine
- or proof of recent recovery from an infection
- or a negative test within the past 48 hours
It’s already being recognized in multiple media reports as among “the world’s strictest anti-COVID measures” for workers. First approved by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s cabinet a month ago, it has now become mandatory on Oct.15.
Protests have been quick to pop up across various parts of the country, particularly as workers who don’t comply can be fined 1,500 euros ($1,760); and alternately workers can be forced to take unpaid leave for refusing the jab. CNN notes that it triggered “protests at key ports and fears of disruption” on Friday, detailing further:
The largest demonstrations were at the major northeastern port of Trieste, where labor groups had threatened to block operations and around 6,000 protesters, some chanting and carrying flares, gathered outside the gates.
Around 40% of Trieste’s port workers are not vaccinated, said Stefano Puzzer, a local trade union official, a far higher proportion than in the general Italian population.
Workers at the large port of Trieste have effectively blocked access to the key transport hub…
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