Italy transport workers go on strike

Long queues of commuters and tourists have formed in the Italian capital Rome as public transport workers go on strike.

The 24-hour work stoppage was organized by Italy’s three main unions namely CGIL, CISL and UIL. The strike is expected to affect all bus services across the country on Friday. However some limited services will be available during the suspension.

The union workers demand the renewal of their contracts. They say the absence of a national agreement that regulates the employer-employee relation is harming them. Employees of Italy’s flag carrier Alitalia, along with local train drivers, have announced that they will stop work for four hours in a show of solidarity with the strikers.

The strikers are also protesting austerity measures and government spending cuts in the cash-strapped country.

Italy started to experience recession after its economy contracted by 0.2 percent in the third quarter of 2011 and by 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011. Over the past decade, Italy has been the slowest growing economy in the eurozone.

Europe plunged into financial crisis in early 2008. The worsening debt crisis has forced the EU governments to adopt harsh austerity measures, triggering protests against spending cuts in many European countries.