ITALY: Public transport workers strike days before crucial parliamentary elections

Record ID: 341085

  • Title: ITALY: Public transport workers strike days before crucial parliamentary elections
  • Date: 19th February 2013
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (FEBRUARY 19, 2013) (REUTERS) BUSES WITH SIGNS ON FRONT READING (IN ITALIAN): "OUT OF SERVICE" VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BOARDING LAST BUS THAT IS IN SERVICE PEOPLE EXITING METRO STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RESIDENT, MARIANGELA COLOSIMO, SAYING: "The strike creates big problems for me. I work in a personnel office and I had four interviews for jobs this mornin
  • Embargoed: 6th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Politics,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVAEJPC2OK4CYSFW3EMSILYPXUAN
  • Story Text: Public transport workers went on strike across Italy on Tuesday (February 19), just days before parliamentary elections.
    Tram, bus and metro workers took part in the action to protest pay and job cuts.
    Thousands of commuters in Rome were affected by the action with queues of people waiting at bus stops in the hope they would be able to get to work.
    "The strike creates big problems for me," said Rome resident Mariangela Colosimo.
    "I work in a personnel office and I had four interviews for jobs this morning. I had to call people one by one to check if and at what time they could make it. The whole day is messed up. And everytime there is a strike that's what happens," she said.
    "The strike will cause so many problems. To move and go to work will be difficult for many. Still, I think workers have the right to do it," said resident Eleanora Sellitto as she waited for a bus.
    "It's a disaster," added Ukrainian immigrant Natalia Liubinska.
    Striking transport worker Damiano Aracino said strikes had to cause disadvantages to the public.
    "Strikes need to create problems, unfortunately. If they did not create disruption they would be totally ineffective," he said.
    "I can feel more solidarity from people now. They understand us better. Everyone has a relative or a friend who has real problems at work and they understand that our reasons are not futile," added another striking worker, Andrea Capulli.
    Italians are preparing to vote in parliamentary elections on the February 24 to 25.
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