Controllers strike disrupts air travel in Italy

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WIRE:03/24/2000 19:25:00 ET Traffic controllers strike disrupts air travel in Italy

ROME (AP) _ An air-traffic controllers' strike stranded thousands at Italy's leading airports Friday, angering passengers and authorities who have tried to arrange a truce in strikes during the Holy Year. The eight-hour controllers' strike grounded more than 300 domestic and international flights at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci and Milan's Malpensa and Linate airports.

The shutdown came with little warning for would-be travelers. At Malpensa, passengers reportedly shoved flight attendants when word came that the flight they were about to board had been canceled.

A "new example of irresponsibility" by a few hurting all of Italy, Transport Minister Pierluigi Bersani fumed.

Local and national leaders have sought to arrange a limited 2000 strike truce to lessen the inconvenience to the millions of pilgrims and tourists arriving during the Roman Catholic Church's Holy Year.

The government and some labor groups signed a pact last month meant to ward off strikes on key days and give ample notice of walkouts on others.

Italy's traveler torment is to persist this weekend, with train workers planning a 24-hour strike starting Saturday night.

Meanwhile, about 350 travelers who opted to take the train from Rome to Venice found themselves choking on smoke Friday.

The train made an emergency stop near Florence, where firefighters evacuated the passengers and put them on another train.

The national railway system said a short in the train's electric system was to blame.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20000324_1601.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), March 24, 2000


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