Engineering workers strike in Italy

Italy's 1.3 million engineering workers were planning a national strike as Labour Research went to press.

The eight-hour stoppage, called by the metalworking unions from all three Italian union confederations - CGIL, CISL and UIL - was set for 29 September.

The unions are protesting against the employers' failure to engage seriously in negotiations on a pay increase for 2005-2006. (Pay deals in Italy are almost always for two years.)

The first negotiating session was in February this year but the employers have not improved their initial offer of an €58.59 increase per month (around £39.25) over two years. The unions are calling for a €105 national increase and €25 at local level - some £87.00 in total.