(supersedes previous)
Normal services resumed after a
four-hour strike on Thursday despite an "abnormally" large
number of drivers having called in sick, Rome public transport
company ATAC said.
Earlier ATAC said the resumption of services at 12.30 pm
local time was at risk.
"At the same time as today's strike, a significant increase
in the cases of illness and of requests to use permits was
registered," the company said.
It added that there were three times the normal number of
absentees for workers on the B line of the Rome metro.
In total, 26 drivers on the A and B lines called in sick,
ATAC said.
The company said it had sent doctors to the homes of all
the drivers concerned to verify their condition.
Meanwhile one of the transport workers unions behind
Thursday's strike described the alleged attempt to put the blame
onto the drivers as "shameful".
"To put all responsibility onto the workers is shameful,"
said Michele Frullo of USB Lavoro.
"The strike saw a very high turnout, and illness is the
consequence of a (contract) agreement in force since July that
increases workloads and and accentuates problems of health and
safety," he continued.
USB Lavoro said 70% of bus drivers stood down from work
during the four-hour strike while the metro A and B lines
remained closed and there were disruption to overland services
on the Roma-Ostia Lido and Roma-Viterbo lines.
ATAC said 10.5% of its workers took part in the strike.
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