ITALY: Transport comes to a halt across Italy as bus and metro drivers strike in protest at government labour reforms

Record ID: 340689

  • Title: ITALY: Transport comes to a halt across Italy as bus and metro drivers strike in protest at government labour reforms
  • Date: 15th March 2012
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (MARCH 14, 2012) (REUTERS) EMPTY BUS WITH (Italian) 'DEPOT' WRITTEN ON IT VARIOUS OF METRO STATION WITH BOARD WARNING OF DELAYS DUE TO STRIKE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) MARIO SPEZZINI SAYING: "Yes (we are having trouble). We came from outside Rome, for medical checks, and now we are stuck. PEOPLE CROWDED AT BUS STOPS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) SWISS TOURIST ERNEST
  • Embargoed: 30th March 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy, Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABHI8ZGVC9G929AGGA50DGKXSO
  • Story Text: Italy's transport system came to a halt on Wednesday (March 14) as bus and metro drivers began a 4-hour strike across the busiest morning rush hour period.
    Commuters at Rome's central Termini station stood at bus stops in the hope that some services were still running.
    People queued at information kiosks as many were caught by surprise by the strike.
    "Yes (we are having trouble). We came from outside Rome, for medical checks, and now we are stuck," said Mario Spezzini, a pensioner.
    But not everyone seemed distressed. A Swiss tourist who had been living in Italy saw the strike as no big trouble.
    "No problem. I know well strikes in Italy, I have lived here for six years in the past. For me, it's nothing shocking" said Ernest Slachinauffen.
    Others were less at ease.
    "A strike? That's why we have been waiting for three quarters of an hour already. So, we'd better get a taxi" said Marcel Basset, from Nice, in France.
    Prime Minister Mario Monti's technocrat government took power in November, when spiralling market concerns about the sustainability of the country's 1.9 trillion euro public debt led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
    After passing a 33-billion-euro austerity plan in December, and presenting a deregulation law in January, Monti is now pushing to overhaul the labour market, which is vital for future growth in the euro zone's third largest economy.
    Transport union members fear, privatisation of part of the sector will lead to job losses and worse working conditions and that current labour contracts will stagnate.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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