- Title: ITALY: Italian truck drivers say strike will continue
- Date: 13th December 2007
- Summary: (BN13) MILAN, ITALY (DECEMBER 12, 2007) (REUTERS) INTERIOR SUPERMARKET FRESH VEGETABLE SHELVES WITH HARDLY ANY PRODUCE VARIOUS EMPTY SHELVES FRESH MEAT SHELVES VIRTUALLY EMPTY (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ERNESTO COLOMBO, HEAD OF FRESH FOOD SECTION AT COOP SAYING: "We have major problems with chicken products and with fruit and vegetables particularly with vegetables we have abo
- Embargoed: 28th December 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Industry,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAEMY3HXLMGIYERBCUWRAF6MXR7
- Story Text: Italian truck drivers have said their strike which has brought Italy to its knees will continue despite talks with the government.
Italian truck drivers on Wednesday (December 12) said a three-day-old strike would continue despite talks with the government in the afternoon.
Union leaders who met with the transport minister in Rome have said they would continue their protest and only give an answer to the government on ending the strike either later in the evening or on Thursday.
The strike, in protest against high fuel costs and poor working conditions, meant supermarket shelves that are usually crammed with fresh fruit and vegetables were running bare, and most filling stations were closed.
Hundreds of trucks have been parked up at major motorway intersections reducing traffic to a snails pace and causing kilometres of tail backs. In other stretches major roads have become virtually deserted with motorists unwilling to use their cars for fear of running out of petrol.
Many petrol stations closed on Tuesday after finishing supplies; those with petrol still on sale have been reduced to selling restricted quantities.
"I can only give them 20 euros worth, enough to let them get off the motorway," said a petrol attendant on the motorway heading towards Venice, adding that he expected to finish all supplies within a couple of hours.
In Milan major supermarkets are running out of supplies with many saying by Thursday they will have been run out of fresh produce including milk, fish, fruit and vegetables.
"We have major problems with chicken products and with fruit and vegetables particularly with vegetables we have about one day left of fish supplies and we are just about surviving with boxed goods and milk products - we have only a couple of days of self sufficiency left and no more," said Ernesto Colombo, head of the fresh food section at the Coop supermarket.
A government injunction demanding an end to the strike by midnight on Tuesday failed to have any significant impact and the strike could last until Friday if truckers continue to defy that ruling and calls from consumers and industry that they allow the country to return to normality. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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