Bologna bus drivers strike after ear‑bite assault

On Saturday morning a passenger on line 96 in Bologna bit off a piece of a Tper bus driver’s ear, leaving the driver with sutures. The attack triggered an eight‑hour strike by local bus drivers, with union participation estimated at over 80% and hundreds gathering outside Tper’s headquarters.

The unions – Fit‑Cgil, Fit‑Cisl, Uil Trasporti, Faisa‑Cisal and Usb – demanded a fully enclosed driver cabin on all buses, increased police presence at stops and on‑board, and tougher penalties for aggressors, including extending the special aggravating provisions that already apply to health‑care workers. They highlighted a rise in both verbal and physical assaults, estimating thousands of incidents per year, and called for an urgent meeting with the prefect to improve safety for transport staff.