Disruptions are expected across Italy on 17 October 2008 due to a nationwide general strike

Disruptions are expected across Italy on 17 October 2008 due to a nationwide general strike being planned by Italian labor unions. The action is expected to affect transportation and medical services in Rome and other cities. Air transport workers will participate in the strike from 1000 to 1800 local time. Train station workers are expected to abstain from work for the entire day, although rail services are only expected to be disrupted from 0900 to 1700 local time. In Rome, bus, tram and metro services will be suspended from 0830 to 1630 local time. The rail lines Roma-Lido di Ostia, Roma Laziali-Giardinetti and Roma-Viterbo will also be affected. Beginning at 1000 local time, strike participants are expected to stage a march from Piazza della Repubblica to Piazza S. Giovanni in Laterano, via Termini station, Piazza S. Maria Maggiore and Via Merulana. The labor unions Confedarazione Unitaria di Base (CUB), Confederazione dei comitati di base (COBAS) and Sindacato dei Lavorati Intercategoriale (SdL) are organizing the strike action.