Alitalia cancels flights because of strike

18 Sep 2008

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The battered Italian flag carrier, Alitalia, cancelled 40 flights when one of its nine unions called for a four-hour strike. 

The small union called went on a four-hour strike to protest layoffs and streamlining measures that were part of a rescue package assembled by a group of Italian investors CAI. 

litalia's formidable labour unions, which effectively scuttled a deal earlier in the year aimed at resurrecting the airline through a stake sale to Air France – KLM, are balking at accepting terms of the rescue plan by potential investors, including longer hours, layoffs and reductions in routes and in the number of aircraft.

Alitalia's web site warned passengers about the walkout by the Cub union, scheduled from noon to 4 pm local time. The flights that were affected flights included domestic and those across Europe.

At Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport, Alitalia workers picketed holding banners against the plan that has been put together at the behest of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. He has urged Alitalia's labour unions to accept restructuring plans proposed by Italian investment group CAI, saying there was no other alternative before the flag carrier.

He even accepted the possibility of a merger with either Air France-KLM or Lufthansa in the future.

However, picketing members of the Cub union shouted "Shame! Shame!" during the strike. The commotion cause by the picketing caused even more disruption for travelers.

"Whoever calls a strike during negotiations shows great irresponsibility," Transport Minister Altero Matteoli told Sky TG24 TV.

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