Metalworkers announce 12-hour strike

(ANSA) - Rome, May 24 - Metalworkers' unions FIOM, FIM and UILM on Tuesday announced a 12-hour strike and no overtime for two days after no agreement was reached with the Italian federation of metalworking companies Federmeccanica on the renewal of their national contract at a meeting at the headquarters of industrial employers group Confindustria in Rome.
    Overall, the first four hours of strike will be organized over the next few days at a local level while a second eight-hour-long strike will take place on June 9 and 10, depending on the region.
    In addition, workers will refuse to do overtime on Saturday, May 28, and on Saturday, June 11.
    Last month, thousands of metalworkers went on strike against Federmeccanica's proposal for the renewal of the contract, which unions say give pay rises to only 5% of workers, those who are currently under the regulated minimum.