Travelers, Airports Hit Hard

Monday was a bad day to fly in or out of Italy, as the country's national airline -- Alitalia  -- cancelled 364 flights in response to a devastating worker strike. The airline expected about 18,000 passengers to face travel disruptions as a result of the one-day walk-out protesting job losses.

The debate stems from Alitalia's management proposal to cut 2,700 jobs to help reduce the state-run airline's financial woes. Company officials also claim the move will help prepare for its transformation to a private operation.

Obviously, the unions don't agree with this cost-cutting plan. "We want the plan withdrawn and discussions to start again from scratch," said Stefano Pietrini, a spokesman for Fit-CISL trade union.

As a result of the disagreements and subsequent one-day strike, which called an 8-hour stoppage between 0900 and 1700 GMT on Monday, check-in counters at Rome's Fiumicino airport -- among many others -- were deserted on Monday as the strike's effect began to take a toll. Facilities outside of the Roman airport were also affected, as union plans included a lunchtime protest outside the Finance Ministry in Rome.

The strike is the third major transport stoppage to hit Italy this year. you may recall, Italian air traffic controllers held a one-day strike on January 8 to protest pay and working conditions which led to 334 Alitalia flights being cancelled, and causing 20,000 stranded passengers to sit around for hours on end. A nationwide strike on January 9 also caused chaos on Italian bus, train and metro transportation services.

FMI: www.alitaliausa.com