Unions strike in protest at TI plans

Italian trade unions are calling for Telecom Italia’s proposed restructuring to be halted amid fears that it will lead to job cuts. Workers held a one-day strike on Tuesday to protest against the reorganisation, under which the telco plans to split its wireline and wireless businesses. Union leaders estimate that 80% of the workforce joined the strike according to a Dow Jones report. Unions are asking the government to step in to help formulate a future strategy for Italy’s largest telco. CGIL union representative Emilio Miceli commented: ‘This plan has to be stopped. What we are asking is to turn Telecom Italia into a real public company, since the current shareholding structure has demonstrated its inadequacy.’