Italy: unitary transport strike blocks Italy once again

After a successful strike last spring (see our dispatch No.  110225), Filt-Cgil, Fit-Cisl, Uiltrasporti, Ugltrasporti, Orsa, Faisa-Cisal and Fast did it again on December 15-16.  They claim the strike caused “almost all trains to stay ‘docked’,” except for mandatory service (from 6 to 9 am and from 6 to 9 pm), and “extremely high” turnout in key Italian cities.  In Rome, Milan and Turin, all metro lines were shut, and average turnout for trams and buses was 85 percent across the country.  Unions denounce the “tragic consequences” over Italian people’s mobility and employment in the sector and among equipment manufacturers resulting from the Berlusconi administration budget cuts – local public transport funding drastically reduced, as well as the ‘universal rail service,’ which already led to 900 job cuts and the cancellation of night trains between the north and the south of the country.  They are notably calling on Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) and the competent ministries to find emergency solutions “beyond social dampers” to solve the crisis.
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rsal rail service,’ which already led to 900 job cuts and the cancellation of night trains between the north and the south of the country. They are notably calling on Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) and the competent ministries to find emergency solutions “beyond social dampers” to solve the crisis.

The single mobility convention at a standstill. They are also calling on Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Corrado Passera to open a mediation procedure to close the negotiations for the mobility

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