Strike Action Again Grips Italy
May 19, 2002 08:08 AM ET Email this article Printer friendly version
By David Brough
ROME (Reuters) - Strikes hit Italy again Sunday as center-right Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and union leaders clashed over labor reform. About half of Italy's regional and inter-city train services were canceled for 24 hours starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, train operator Trenitalia said.
Railway union Orsa called the stoppage to press for better pay and working conditions.
The strike, albeit not directly tied to labor reform, is the latest in a wave of industrial action that has gripped Italy.
On April 16, millions of Italians staged a general strike to protest against government labor reforms.
The strike was aimed at a small part of Berlusconi's planned reform -- an adjustment to Article 18 of Italy's labor code, which forces companies to reinstate anyone sacked without "just cause."
Relations between unions and the government broke down in March after extremist leftwing guerrillas shot dead Marco Biagi, one of the architects of the contested labor reforms.
Berlusconi clashed with union leaders over the weekend.
"They can strike as often as they like, but I will never give in," he told reporters during a trip to Sardinia.
Sergio Cofferati, leader of Italy's largest union CGIL, responded: "Berlusconi should know that people will continue to strike until they get what they want."
Savino Pezzotta, leader of the Cisl union, threatened further strikes unless the government met union leaders to discuss changes to labor rules.
Air traffic controllers are set to stop work for four hours Friday, threatening further chaos for travelers. Rome airport workers are planning a four-hour protest over working conditions on June 14.
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Up to 12,000 Italy auto jobs at risk -unions
May 19, 2002 09:17 AM ET Email this article Printer friendly version
MILAN, May 19 (Reuters) - Up to 12,000 Italian car industry jobs could be at risk after cutbacks at debt-laden carmaker Fiat FIA.MI , unions said over the weekend.
"Some 12,000 jobs are at risk. The entire Turin industrial system is in danger," said Giorgio Airaudo, secretary of the Turin branch of the Fiom Cgil union.
Newspapers quoted Fiat Chairman Paulo Fresco as saying some 10,000 car industry workers could be laid off.
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