In view of an planned eight-hour strike by Alitalia flight attendants and air traffic controllers, the airlines has cancelled almost 400 flights today. A strike by the staff earlier on May 3, forced the airline to scrap 350 flights. Unions have been trying to keep up the pressure on the airline during contract negotiations.
Alitalia said 394 flights were expected to be canceled because of the impending walkout, set to last from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday. A list of the cancelled flights is here. The strike is ion lie of the rule-book protest. The light crews, insist that rules regulating the number of crew members and the hours of rest between flights be meticulously observed, refused to fly.
Strikes, low-cost competitors and high fuel costs have plagued Alitalia, which the government has put up for sale. The Italian government, with a 49.9 percent stake, is the largest stake-holder in the airline.
The Italian state is looking to sell its controlling stake in the airline. Tackling Alitalia’s notoriously tough labour unions is expected to be among the challenges facing any buyer.
To add to commuting woes, taxi drivers have also announced their latest nationwide strike. The May 31 strike, like one earlier this month, was called to protest Premier Romano Prodi’s efforts to liberalize the taxi sector, with the aim of making more cabs available.
Source: Seattle Times
