Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Italy’s Monti faces unions calls for strikes over Austerity Plan

Italy's new Prime Minister Mario Monti, trying to push through a tough austerity package he says is vital for the country's financial salvation, faced two calls for national strikes and saw a dip in his public support today.

The three main trade union confederations, after divisive dithering over their individual responses, announced a joint national three-hour strike in the private sector for Dec. 12.

Public sector workers will strike for eight hours on Dec. 19 against the 30 billion-euro ($40.3 billion) package affecting pensions and property taxes.

Monti, a former European Commissioner who formed a government of technocrats on Nov. 17, said in a television interview last night the package was vital to avoid the risk of Italy becoming insolvent and no longer being able to pay public sector salaries or pensions.

He said he was confident Italians would see that sacrifices were necessary and the measures were fair. "I'm sure there will be protests, and I can even consider them justified, but I'm sure that citizens will understand," he said.