Heatwave Heat‑Up: Italian Food Deliveries Spark a Strike

Sun Sep 06 2026 12:38:15 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Delivery riders in Italy hit the road and filed a strike amid a scorching heatwave, demanding safer working conditions and fair pay.

Italian food‑delivery riders from Glovo and Deliveroo will walk off the job across Milan, Bologna and Florence to protest soaring temperatures and inadequate protections. City orders cap delivery hours, but unions argue that riders still need safe breaks, water and wage guarantees. The heatwave‑induced strike is part of a broader European push for better conditions as lawmakers and companies grapple with rising summer temperatures.

Heatwave heat‑up: Italian food‑delivery riders are hitting the road to strike over 40°C heat and insufficient workplace protections.

In Milan, riders for Glovo and Deliveroo will stop work in the evenings, calling for better wages and healthier conditions. The city has already cut delivery times between 12:30 and 16:00 until 23 September to keep riders cool.

In Bologna and Florence, riders will switch off their app and march in city centers, while authorities are debating outdoor work bans for construction and farming during the hottest part of the day.

The strike is part of a wider European debate: 130 million workers face heat stress each year, and unions in Spain and France are calling for stronger safety nets.

Glovo has said it’s listening to riders in Spain and Italy, while JustEat reports no participation in Milan’s walk‑off, but negotiations are ongoing.

Next steps: the unions will meet Rome’s labour ministry on Thursday to discuss welfare measures, and the Italian government will consider further restrictions on outdoor work during peak heat hours 2026‑07‑15.