Italy's general strike hits mass transit
ROME. May 6. KAZINFORM Commuters in Italy are scrambling to find the few buses and subway trains running during a one-day general strike that is also affecting air and rail travel, banks, public offices and schools; Kazinform refers to China Daily.
The nationwide strike Friday was called by Italy's biggest labor confederation.
The mass transit walkout was set to last for four hours at morning or evening rush hours.
Flight personnel were set to strike from 10 am to 2 pm (0800-1200 GMT), and railway workers from 2 pm to 6 pm (1200-1600 GMT). Alitalia changed departure times to ensure intercontinental service and reduced domestic and European flights.
Union leaders want the government to ease taxes on salaried workers in a country where the self-employed often evade taxes. They also demand more investment to create jobs.