Unions at Italian carrier Alitalia said on Friday that they were ready to call off their January 19 strike if the government offered guarantees on employment levels after the airline is privatized.
"We are all asking for the government to give workers guarantees. If the government is able to erase our doubts , we will not strike," said Raffaele Bonanni, secretary general of the Cisl trade union.
The Italian government decided at the end of last year to sell no less than 30.1% of Alitalia and is accepting initial offers up until January 29.
The Treasury has hinted that it may sell all of the state's 49.9% stake in the airline under the right conditions.
Unions were angered that they were not consulted in the decision to privatize the carrier.
In its initial tender, the treasury said potential buyers would have to maintain Alitalia's brand and national 'character', but only strongly urged that employment levels be maintained.
Transport Minister Alessandro Bianchi has criticised the strike, arguing that any labor action was pointless until after the January 29 deadline for offers.
"We cannot offer guarantees when the operation is in progress," he explained.
