EyeInTheSky
Veteran
Cabin Crews Wage 'Snack Strike' Protest
Fri Jan 7,10:17 AM ET
By Robin Pomeroy
ROME (Reuters) - Passengers on Alitalia's European flights were left hungry on Friday as cabin crew refused to serve meals and drinks in a "snack strike" to protest new working conditions at the Italian carrier.
The novel industrial action is a pale shadow of the all-out strikes which brought the airline to a standstill on occasion last year, but it has infuriated the management which is trying to drag the state-controlled company into profit.
Passengers on national and European flights were to be deprived of most in-flight services between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. (1000-1400), a union representative said. Long-haul flights were unaffected.
"This is an unusual way to get the attention of Alitalia which won't mean big problems for passengers," he said.
Alitalia has threatened employees with legal action if they participate in the action, saying the protest is illegal as it comes during the peak Christmas period during which strikes are outlawed.
But unions were unrepentant and said they could stage more serious strikes if their grievances are not addressed.
The company hoped it had put an end to a lengthy and damaging period of industrial unrest last October when it finally agreed with unions a sweeping restructuring plan aimed at pulling Alitalia back from the brink of bankruptcy.
That plan will shed 3,700 jobs, around a sixth of the payroll, split the firm into a flying and a services division and inject up to 1.2 billion euros in a capital increase, reducing the state's holding to 49 percent from today's 62 percent.
It includes tougher working conditions that affect shift practices and other things which have made many employees unhappy.
Transport minister Pietro Lunardi is due to visit the European Union (news - web sites) Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot in Brussels next Wednesday amid speculation that the EU will launch an in-depth probe to see if the plan contains illegal state aid.
The EU executive body could outlaw parts of the plan if it deems they break rules aimed at promoting competition by banning state aid to airlines.
Fri Jan 7,10:17 AM ET
By Robin Pomeroy
ROME (Reuters) - Passengers on Alitalia's European flights were left hungry on Friday as cabin crew refused to serve meals and drinks in a "snack strike" to protest new working conditions at the Italian carrier.
The novel industrial action is a pale shadow of the all-out strikes which brought the airline to a standstill on occasion last year, but it has infuriated the management which is trying to drag the state-controlled company into profit.
Passengers on national and European flights were to be deprived of most in-flight services between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. (1000-1400), a union representative said. Long-haul flights were unaffected.
"This is an unusual way to get the attention of Alitalia which won't mean big problems for passengers," he said.
Alitalia has threatened employees with legal action if they participate in the action, saying the protest is illegal as it comes during the peak Christmas period during which strikes are outlawed.
But unions were unrepentant and said they could stage more serious strikes if their grievances are not addressed.
The company hoped it had put an end to a lengthy and damaging period of industrial unrest last October when it finally agreed with unions a sweeping restructuring plan aimed at pulling Alitalia back from the brink of bankruptcy.
That plan will shed 3,700 jobs, around a sixth of the payroll, split the firm into a flying and a services division and inject up to 1.2 billion euros in a capital increase, reducing the state's holding to 49 percent from today's 62 percent.
It includes tougher working conditions that affect shift practices and other things which have made many employees unhappy.
Transport minister Pietro Lunardi is due to visit the European Union (news - web sites) Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot in Brussels next Wednesday amid speculation that the EU will launch an in-depth probe to see if the plan contains illegal state aid.
The EU executive body could outlaw parts of the plan if it deems they break rules aimed at promoting competition by banning state aid to airlines.
