ITALY-STRIKE/AIRPORT Many flights cancelled as strike action hits Italian airports

Record ID: 341888

  • Title: ITALY-STRIKE/AIRPORT Many flights cancelled as strike action hits Italian airports
  • Date: 12th December 2014
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (DECEMBER 12, 2014) (REUTERS) TRAVELLERS IN AIRPORT DEPARTURE LOUNGE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF INFORMATION BOARD PEOPLE QUEUING AT CHECK-IN DESKS SUITCASES VARIOUS PEOPLE WAITING WITH LUGGAGE INFORMATION BOARD SHOWING CANCELLED FLIGHTS PEOPLE LOOKING AT INFORMATION BOARD FLIGHTS CANCELLED SHOWING ON INFORMATION BOARD PEOPLE SEATED WITH LUGGAGE TIRED PASSENGER FALLING ASLEEP VARIOUS PEOPLE SEATED TRAVELLERS SITTING ON FLOOR (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN TOURIST FROM NEW YORK, NICK, SAYING: "It is frustrating but I think we have a flight on Sunday that we will be able to get. So we are calling our travel insurance company and we are figuring things out. I don't really know enough about the strike to know if it is right or wrong." (SOUNDBITE) (English) BULGARIAN TOURIST, IVAN PETROFF, SAYING: "I think it is pretty bad that there is a strike and there is no flight because I don't know how I will get home. I was expecting to be home by 6 o'clock today but now I don't know if I will be back home today. I don't know what I am going to do or who is going to pay for another flight." (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN TRAVELLER FROM SARDINIA, MIRELLA GARAO SAYING: "It isn't correct but you see Alitalia can do it anyway. For me it isn't a problem but for the people who are going a long way for example to America, it is terrible. I only have to go to Sardinia. For those who are going a long way it is horrible." VARIOUS PEOPLE CHECKING DETAILS ON INFORMATION BOARD EMPTY AIRPORT TERMINAL VARIOUS PEOPLE QUEUING AT ALITALIA DESK VARIOUS SIGNS READING "CLOSED" INFORMATION BOARD SHOWING CANCELLED FLIGHTS PEOPLE AT INFORMATION DESK
  • Embargoed: 27th December 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABN5TOX7U9KQXFIF2MJH0AC3U8
  • Story Text: Domestic and international flights to Italy's main airports were cancelled or delayed on Friday (December 12) as CGIL and UIL union members protested against the economic reforms of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
    Renzi, facing resistance from both unions and some in his own centre-left Democratic Party, has pledged to push on with reforms to Italy's limping economy, which is heading for a third straight year of contraction.
    Many air passengers had arranged not to travel because of the strike, which is set to run from 1000-1800 (0900-1700 GMT). But some international passengers were caught unaware and struggling to understand how to continue their journeys.
    "It is frustrating but I think we have a flight on Sunday that we will be able to get" said a forlorn looking Nick, from New York.
    "We are calling our travel insurance company and we are figuring things out," he said.
    "I think it is pretty bad that there is a strike and there is no flight because I don't know how I will get home" said Bulgarian tourist Ivan Petroff.
    "I was expecting to be home by 6 o'clock today but now I don't know if I will be back home today. I don't know what I am going to do or who is going to pay for another flight" he said.
    One domestic traveller thought it was wrong for Alitalia workers to have joined the strike.
    "It isn't correct but you see Alitalia can do it anyway," said Mirella Garao, trying to get home to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia.
    "For me it isn't a problem but for the people who are going a long way for example to America, it is terrible," she said.
    The main target of Friday's strike action was the 39 year-old premier's "Jobs Act", aimed at loosening restrictions on firing employees when companies face a business downturn and weakens a treasured right to protest unlawful dismissal.
    With unemployment at record levels and youth jobless rates topping 40 percent, unions say the burden of the reforms and spending cuts is being placed unfairly on workers and will do nothing to revive growth.
    The strike by CGIL and UIL unions also hit public transport as well as hospitals, schools and civil administrations throughout Italy. More than 50 rallies were planned across the country.
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