ITALY: Rome's commuters lament transport strike

Record ID: 341211

  • Title: ITALY: Rome's commuters lament transport strike
  • Date: 18th October 2013
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (OCTOBER 18, 2013) (REUTERS) EMPTY BUS STATION BUS DRIVING PAST, ELECTRONIC SIGNAL READING IN ITALIAN: 'DEPOT' QUEUES OF PASSENGERS WAITING AT BUS STATION VARIOUS EMPTY BUS STOP PASSENGERS TRYING TO CATCH LAST BUS BEFORE STRIKE BUS WITH SIGN READING 'OUT OF SERVICE' EMPTY BUS STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) MOROCCAN LABOURER, LARSEN RATTEN, SAYING: "Yes, it's ann
  • Embargoed: 2nd November 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Politics,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVABIB1IHCOG4L3MTWZ4DIEAFNR7
  • Story Text: Chaos ruled in Rome on Friday morning, (October 18) as many surprised commuters, realised that they would have to walk to work or force themselves onto the last buses before a strike that would last until eight p.m.
    "Yes, it's annoying, because I need to go to work," said Moroccan labourers Larsen Ratten.
    "These buses are completely full. This strike, I don't really know. On the one hand, yes I understand, but on the other hand, no. But for people who have to go to work it's really inconvenient," Ratten added.
    Being a Friday, many people just seemed to have given up and taken the day off, but for some that was not an option.
    "It has started just now, maybe the the last number 40 has left. I am trying to understand because I can see the buses have signs already reading 'Depot'. I'll probably just walk down to Piazza Venezia," said office worker Paolo Mascheroni.
    Others were more disgruntled, but reluctantly supported the worker's right to strike, like Andrea from Rome.
    "In my opinion it's not right, but it's correct that if workers have a problem with their company, they have the right to go on strike," said Andrea.
    Scarcely a day passes without a new dispute in the government - an uneasy alliance of former adversaries forced to work together after an inconclusive general election - raising speculation it may fall in the autumn.
    The budget, which was presented on Tuesday (October 15) must be approved by parliament by the end of the year.
    It is likely to become the focal point and a pretext for a myriad of protests against the unpopular government, which uncomfortably combines the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and its traditional rival.
    Prime Minister Enrico Letta is having to juggle the People of Freedom party's (PDL) demand with European Union-mandated limits on an already strained budget. EU rules stipulates that the fiscal gap should be limited to 3 percent of output.
    Centre-right leader, Silvio Berlusconi faces a crucial vote on the floor of the Senate next month on whether to expel him from parliament after his tax-fraud conviction, and many commentators believe he will use the budget to justify a new bid to bring down the government.
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