Rome faces major protest by trade unions as well as transport strikes

A national general strike on Friday 18 October will involve a major protest in Rome by trade unions COBAS, CUB and USB, whose members are calling for the renewal of contracts, an increase in wages and pensions and the reduction of working time, as well as protesting against austerity policies in Italy and Europe.

Protesters will march from Piazza della Repubblica at 10.00, making their way to Piazza S. Giovanni where a rally begins at 14.00. 

Rome's transport company ATAC has scheduled a 24-hour public transport strike on the same day, from 08.30 to 17.00 and from 20.00 to end of service. The strike affects Rome's buses, trams and light rail services Roma-Lido, Roma-Giardinetti and Roma-Civitacastellana-Viterbo, as well as suburban bus services operated by Roma Tpl.

However Rome's metro lines will run as normal that day, from 05.30 until 01.30. A previously scheduled metro stike that evening was cancelled following intervention from the city's mayor Ignazio Marino.

For full details see Rome's mobility agency website.