Unions begin hunger strike at Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, demanding worker protections, quality care, and preservation of its mission.
Newsroom (05/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) Unions representing employees at the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, the hospital founded in 1956 by St. Pio of Pietrelcina, have launched a hunger strike in protest against what they describe as a deepening institutional crisis.
The action began on May 2, as multiple unions — Fp Cgil, Fp Cisl, Uil Fp, Fials, and Nursing Up — intensified their response to what they called a prolonged stalemate with hospital management. According to union representatives, the situation now threatens not only employment but also the quality of care and the identity of the institution itself.
The hunger strike, described as an “act of extreme sacrifice,” comes after months of uncertainty and a lack of concrete guarantees regarding the hospital’s recovery plan and contractual stability. Union leaders say they will continue the protest until they receive clear answers from management.
At the center of the dispute are four non-negotiable demands: ensuring quality care for patients who regard the hospital as a national point of reference; protecting the rights and future of hundreds of workers and their families; defending the hospital’s original mission; and enhancing the historical and social heritage of the surrounding territory.
“We are not willing to watch a heritage of faith, solidarity and professionalism crumble,” union representatives said in a joint statement, warning that “seventy years of history cannot be erased by a crisis that today appears unprecedented.”
The unions argue that current management decisions are undermining the very foundations of the institution established by Padre Pio, a hospital long associated with both medical care and spiritual mission.
In parallel with the hunger strike, a public demonstration was organized for May 4. The procession was set to begin in Viale Kennedy, pass through Corso Umberto I and Viale dei Cappuccini, and conclude at the churchyard of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
Union leaders have called on local and regional authorities to intervene, urging the broader community to take part in the mobilization. “Casa Sollievo belongs to everyone and cannot be touched,” they said, adding that “70 years of hope cannot be wasted.”
The protest signals a critical moment for one of Italy’s most historically significant healthcare institutions, as workers and supporters rally to defend its future and founding values.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Foggia Today
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