Italy's fuel station operators on Wednesday confirmed a pump shutdown from February 27 to March 3 to protest the government's plans to deregulate the sector.
Unions representing the operators met here with Industry Minister Pierluigi Bersani in an attempt to avert a strike but neither side appeared willing to give any ground.
Bersani said after the meeting that he could not compromise on the content and goals of his reforms but was open to ideas on how to best implement his plan.
Fuel station operators staged a 48-hour strike last week against Bersani's plans to allow shopping centres and supermarkets to sell petrol, abolish rules establishing minimum distances between petrol stations and the extending opening hours.
They claim the changes could force them out of business and have called a total of 14 days of strikes.
Consumer groups, on the other hand, have applauded Bersani's plan because it would reduce prices through greater competition.
