Rome braced for general strike on 25 October.

Trade unions representing employees of the capital's 18 municipal companies say a general strike will bring "Rome to a halt" on Friday 25 October.

The heads of three trade unions - CISL, UIL and CGIL - say the strike is in protest over the city's "controlled liquidation" of Roma Metropolitane, the company overseeing the construction of Rome's Metro C project.

Unions also say they are striking to highlight how municipal companies such as public transport agency ATAC and waste collection firm AMA are managed.

"We are tired of living in degradation with poor services and employees working in humiliating conditions, with violence against ATAC and AMA operators", said Natale Di Cola of CGIL, adding: "there has never been such a hostile climate towards workers."

The strike will affect the entire ATAC network including buses, metro, trams, and light rail lines. It will also disrupt other sectors including rubbish collection, schools and social services.

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