Gunship
21st Jan 2006, 10:31
I nearly took one ... thanks for the better ticket price BA :ok:
Rome - Troubled airline Alitalia was forced to cancel 130 flights Saturday and warned of delays on other international and internal services as cabin crew and pilots continued industrial action.
While a strike that disrupted flights Thursday and Friday was suspended until Monday, some staff still stayed away from work while unions were holding mass meetings.
In line with Italian law, a minimum service was being provided with flights operating over three hours each in the morning and evening.
Pilots will not be joining Monday's 24-hour stoppage called in further protest against what employees say are worsening working conditions, imposed by management in an effort to cut costs and avoid bankruptcy.
The government says it can provide no more money and Transport Minister Pietro Lunardi has threatened the strikers with sanctions.
"Alitalia is doing its best to limit the inconvenience to its customers thanks to those members of staff who are showing a sense of responsibility and duty," the company said in a statement.
It branded the stoppages "illegal," notably because the unions had not respected the minimum 10-day period between calling a strike and carrying it out.
A recovery plan launched in late 2004 provided for 3,700 job losses and a split between ground operations and transport activities. At the end of last year other measures, including mortgaging aircraft, had to be taken. – AFP
Bus Report (http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3075765)
Rome - Troubled airline Alitalia was forced to cancel 130 flights Saturday and warned of delays on other international and internal services as cabin crew and pilots continued industrial action.
While a strike that disrupted flights Thursday and Friday was suspended until Monday, some staff still stayed away from work while unions were holding mass meetings.
In line with Italian law, a minimum service was being provided with flights operating over three hours each in the morning and evening.
Pilots will not be joining Monday's 24-hour stoppage called in further protest against what employees say are worsening working conditions, imposed by management in an effort to cut costs and avoid bankruptcy.
The government says it can provide no more money and Transport Minister Pietro Lunardi has threatened the strikers with sanctions.
"Alitalia is doing its best to limit the inconvenience to its customers thanks to those members of staff who are showing a sense of responsibility and duty," the company said in a statement.
It branded the stoppages "illegal," notably because the unions had not respected the minimum 10-day period between calling a strike and carrying it out.
A recovery plan launched in late 2004 provided for 3,700 job losses and a split between ground operations and transport activities. At the end of last year other measures, including mortgaging aircraft, had to be taken. – AFP
Bus Report (http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3075765)