Rail strike averted, air controllers to protest March 4th

| Fri, 03/03/2006 - 05:24

A 24-hour rail strike on Saturday has been called off after management and unions reached an agreement on employment levels.

The strike had been set to begin at 21:00 (20:00 GMT) Friday.

Air traffic controllers, meanwhile, have confirmed their four-hour strike on Saturday which will be staged at most airports from 12.00 (11:00 GMT) to 16:00 (15:00 GMT).

A longer protest will be staged in Rome where controllers will stay off the job from 10:00 (09:00 GMT) to 18:00 (17:00 GMT).

Postal workers belonging to unions which have not signed the national contract will stage a 24-hour strike on Monday.

The agreement which averted Saturday's rail strike included the hiring of 800 engineer trainees.

Negotiations will now continue on employment levels in other areas including maintenance, ticketing and logistics.

Unions are hoping to gain another 400 hirings.

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