Strikes in Italy

Italy faces a public sector strike wave as workers push for more cash from the 2007 budget and to protest against the privatisation of airline Alitalia.

Alitalia warned customers to expect major disruption today when air stewards and ground staff in Rome, Milan and Venice plan a strike. Employees fear for their jobs when the state sells off its controlling stake early next year.

One union said workers were unhappy at comments made by Economy Minister Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa who said job levels "must be coherent with the business plan".

"The comments on Alitalia yesterday by certain government members just threw fuel on the fire," the Sult union said, adding that further strikes were possible in the following days.

Public transport unions who had threatened to bring cities to a standstill in a nationwide strike today called off the stoppage after reaching a last-minute deal with the government over pay.