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ROME (Reuters) - A strike by staff of Alitalia airlines has grounded 364 flights, forced thousands of passengers to change their plans and added to disruption caused by labour disputes in other parts of Italy's transport sector.
Check-in counters at Rome's Fiumicino airport were deserted on Monday and baggage carousels silent as staff abandoned their posts for eight hours in protest over a restructuring plan that would reduce the carrier's workforce by 2,700, or some 12 percent.
The strike, the third by staff since the state-controlled company presented its three-year plan in October, affected about 18,000 passengers. On top of the cancellations, Alitalia had to reschedule a further 64 flights.
Hundreds of workers based at Fiumicino staged a sit-in outside the Italian Treasury in central Rome.
"We want the government to be bold and sack (Alitalia Chief Executive Francesco) Mengozzi because he's already caused enough damage, and to start new negotiations aimed at improving the company," said union representative Gennaro Pacchiarotti.
This month the airline, which has forecast operating losses of more than 400 million euros for 2003, lifted a planned pay freeze that had enraged employees and unions, and delayed a final decision on the job cuts pending further labour talks.
The carrier is battling to cut costs to make it fit to try to enter a merger of Air France and KLM. Alitalia declined to comment on the financial impact of the strikes.
Aside from walkouts by its own staff, the carrier cancelled hundreds of other flights due to strikes during the Christmas holiday period by air traffic controllers over pay.
Despite the strike, Alitalia shares were trading up 2.74 percent at 0.27 euro at 1324 GMT, just over their 30-day average volume and outperforming the broad Mibtel index.
One trader said the shares were higher because the stock had been oversold last week due to jitters about the strike.
Contract disputes have also caused chaos in other transport sectors. A series of official and wildcat walkouts by bus, tram and metro workers have stranded thousands of commuters the length of Italy in December and January.
The strikes have turned up the pressure on the centre-right government as it pursues labour and pension reforms.
Most travellers knew about Monday's walkout well in advance but some international visitors were caught out.
"I'm having lots of troubles. I'm trying to meet my family in Venice. They are also flying Alitalia but they are stuck in Milan right now. I can't get in touch with them," said Isaac Towel, a tourist from New York in Italy for the first time.
Last week Fiumicino baggage handlers sparked chaos at the airport when they walked off the job for three hours.
Una faccia, una racia...
Check-in counters at Rome's Fiumicino airport were deserted on Monday and baggage carousels silent as staff abandoned their posts for eight hours in protest over a restructuring plan that would reduce the carrier's workforce by 2,700, or some 12 percent.
The strike, the third by staff since the state-controlled company presented its three-year plan in October, affected about 18,000 passengers. On top of the cancellations, Alitalia had to reschedule a further 64 flights.
Hundreds of workers based at Fiumicino staged a sit-in outside the Italian Treasury in central Rome.
"We want the government to be bold and sack (Alitalia Chief Executive Francesco) Mengozzi because he's already caused enough damage, and to start new negotiations aimed at improving the company," said union representative Gennaro Pacchiarotti.
This month the airline, which has forecast operating losses of more than 400 million euros for 2003, lifted a planned pay freeze that had enraged employees and unions, and delayed a final decision on the job cuts pending further labour talks.
The carrier is battling to cut costs to make it fit to try to enter a merger of Air France and KLM. Alitalia declined to comment on the financial impact of the strikes.
Aside from walkouts by its own staff, the carrier cancelled hundreds of other flights due to strikes during the Christmas holiday period by air traffic controllers over pay.
Despite the strike, Alitalia shares were trading up 2.74 percent at 0.27 euro at 1324 GMT, just over their 30-day average volume and outperforming the broad Mibtel index.
One trader said the shares were higher because the stock had been oversold last week due to jitters about the strike.
Contract disputes have also caused chaos in other transport sectors. A series of official and wildcat walkouts by bus, tram and metro workers have stranded thousands of commuters the length of Italy in December and January.
The strikes have turned up the pressure on the centre-right government as it pursues labour and pension reforms.
Most travellers knew about Monday's walkout well in advance but some international visitors were caught out.
"I'm having lots of troubles. I'm trying to meet my family in Venice. They are also flying Alitalia but they are stuck in Milan right now. I can't get in touch with them," said Isaac Towel, a tourist from New York in Italy for the first time.
Last week Fiumicino baggage handlers sparked chaos at the airport when they walked off the job for three hours.
Una faccia, una racia...
