La Scala workers maintain October 20 strike after October 15 pay talks

La Scala workers have maintained a full-day strike planned for October 20 after contract talks failed to resolve their pay dispute. ANSA reported October 16 that a meeting the previous evening between superintendent Fortunato Ortombina and union representatives had produced no agreement.

The workers voted for the action October 12. ANSA reported one opposing vote and four abstentions when workers approved action threatening the opening performance of Charles Gounod’s Faust.

The unions are seeking a 15% increase in annual gross pay to recover losses from inflation, including inflation before 2026. Cgil, Cisl, Uil and Fials representatives took part in the October 15 meeting.

The unions acknowledged that Ortombina had shown willingness to discuss inflation recovery, but said there had been no concrete progress on their financial demands. They maintained the strike for the theatre’s entire staff and announced demonstrations and pickets for the day.

At the time of the October 12 vote, Cgil representative Paolo Puglisi had said workers could reconsider if theatre officials were prepared to negotiate. The later meeting left the action in place, according to ANSA’s October 16 account.

As of October 17, the theatre’s official Faust page carried a notice acknowledging the announced October 20 strike and saying updates would follow when available. It still listed the premiere at 19:30 in Rome.

The new production is conducted by Daniele Rustioni and directed by Johannes Erath. It would bring Faust back to the Scala stage for the first time since 2010, with further performances listed through November 8.

The theatre’s October 17 notice did not announce that the premiere had been cancelled. The performance remained subject to the dispute and further official updates.

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