ITALY: GENERAL STRIKE CRIPPLES ALL SERVICES

Record ID: 342065

  • Title: ITALY: GENERAL STRIKE CRIPPLES ALL SERVICES
  • Date: 5th February 1969
  • Summary: INACTIVE STREETS OF ROME; DEMONSTRATORS CARRYING BANNERS THROUGH STREETS. Initials DHC/V/MR/PC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th February 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVAH5DXVN3GLU40A1H231YCL0V8
  • Story Text: MILLIONS OF ITALIAN WORKERS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) JOINED IN A NATION-WIDE GENERAL STRIKE WHICH VIRTUALLY PARALYSED THE COUNTRY'S INDUSTRY. IN FLORENCE, BOLOGNA AND TURIN TONIGHT, VIOLENCE ERUPTED BETWEEN STUDENTS SUPPORTING THE STRIKERS AND POLICE, AND BETWEEN STRIKERS AND NON-STRIKERS TRYING TO GET TO WORK. THE STRIKE, CALLED TO BACK DEMANDS FOR HIGHER STATE PENSIONS, WAS BACKED BY PROTEST MARCHES BY THOUSANDS IN SEVERAL MAJOR CITIES.

    UNION SPOKESMAN CLAIMED THAT THE STOPPAGE, EXPECTED TO BRING OUT NEARLY 20 MILLION WORKERS IN INDUSTRY, TRADE AND AGRICULTURE, WAS SUPPORTED BY BETWEEN 80 AND 90 PER CENT OF THE WORKERS IN THE ROME REGION.

    A SIMILAR ESTIMATE WAS MADE FOR THE MAJOR INDUSTRIAL REGION OF MILAN, WHERE MOST FACTORIES WERE REPORTED CLOSED, OR ALMOST INACTIVE.

    IN ROME, STUDENTS MARCHED THROUGH THE STREETS CARRYING PORTRAITS OF STALIN AND MAO TSE TUNG. THE STUDENTS SET UP A STEADY CHANT OF "LENIN, STALIN, MAO TSE TUNG....."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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