Supermarket workers announce nat'l strike

(ANSA) - Rome, November 7 - Supermarket, retail and large-scale distribution workers will go on strike Saturday to protest the failed renewal of their national collective bargaining contracts, FILCAMS union said Friday.
    The strike called by Italy's "big three" CGIL, CISL and UIL unions will affect companies belonging to the Federdistribuzione supermarket federation, shopkeepers association Confesercenti and Distribuzione Cooperativa distributors' cooperative.
    Unions and labor "are ready for a long battle" after 22 months of unsuccessful negotiations, FILCAMS said in a statement.
    The union has already planned another strike on December 19, should talks still lead nowhere after tomorrow's action.
    On Saturday, there will be sit-ins at shopping malls and strategic retail points in Milan, Naples, Palermo, Rome, and Turin, and all the cities of the Emilia Romagna region.
    Retail employees will demonstrate in front of the prefectures in Ancona, Bolzano, Florence, and Vicenza.