Many banks across Italy will be closed on 10 September as staff strike in favour of better pay and work conditions.

Alitalia employees called off a 24-hour strike in protest against thousands of layoffs threatened by the company which is at present trying to put together a rescue package for Italy's flag carrier. Negotiations between the unions and management to save the airline continue.

On 10 September the 185 locally employed staff at British Airways in Italy have declared a four-hour strike from 14.00-18.00 because their contracts have not been renewed for 12 years.

On 15 September a 24-hour countrywide local public- transport strike has been announced. In Rome, city buses and the underground are expected to run from 05.30-08.30 and from 17.00-20.00, for the rest of the day there may be a few buses and metro trains running.