Regional transport is collapsing, and USB is sounding the alarm: 'New driver hires needed immediately.'

Naples – The start of the school year has brought to the fore the long-standing problems of local public transportation in Campania. The alarm has been raised by the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), which has formally requested an urgent meeting with Campania Regional authorities, simultaneously announcing a protest for next week.

The picket will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m., in front of the Campania Region's Department of Transport, located on Isola C3 in the Naples Business District. Approximately 60 people are expected to participate, and the union has already requested a delegation.

At the heart of the dispute is AIR Campania's personnel management. According to the union, the latest recruitment process—which saw the hiring of only 45 new operators—is largely insufficient to fill the company's staffing gap.

The issues came to a head with the resumption of school, a time of maximum stress for the transport network. The shortage of drivers is resulting in a disproportionate increase in workloads for current staff. This situation, the union denounces, directly undermines the quality of the trips provided and risks compromising minimum safety standards, both for drivers and passengers.

The union's letter—addressed, among others, to Regional President Roberto Fico, Transport Councillor Mario Casillo, Transport Commission President Luca Cascone, and the Naples Police Headquarters—also highlights an economic aspect: investing in a special hiring plan, drawing further from the existing recruitment process, would not only represent a cost, but would also significantly improve the efficiency of AIR Campania and the Region, reducing operational inefficiencies.

The September 22nd meeting promises to be a crucial test of regional institutions' commitment to public transport and job security.

PB