Unions representing Italy's fuel station operators on Friday announced 14 days of strikes to protest against a government move to deregulate their sector.
The first, 48-hour stoppage will take place on February 7-8, the three unions said.
"The government is forcing an entire category of workers into an extremely tough response" they said after Thursday night's cabinet approval of a deregulation bill.
Fuel station operators are particularly angry at plans to allow shopping centres and supermarkets to distribute fuels.
They also oppose the planned abolition of minimum distances between petrol stations and the extension of opening hours.
The unions said they were "not prepared to be sacrificed to do a favour to the powerful fuel distribution lobby".
They said the bill would result in the closure of stations and force car owners to travel further for non-fuel services.
Consumer groups have applauded the plan, however, arguing it will reduce prices through greater competition.
According to the unions, fuel distribution has already been deregulated in Italy, since 1998, and there is no justification for a further liberalisation.
Big fuel distributing chains have far less of the market in Italy than in other European Union countries.
Italian petrol prices are among the highest in Europe.
Earlier this week, Italy's anti-trust authority launched a probe into nine oil companies suspected of price fixing.
Thursday's deregulation bill contains a raft of measures including streamlining business start-ups and getting rid of fees for mobile phone top-ups.
Praised by consumer groups, the packages seek to rid Italy of the red tape and market rigidities that have made its economy one of the EU's worst performers over the past decade.
