Govt 'surprised' after 2 big unions call general strike

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 7 - Labour Minister Andrea Orlando said Tuesday he was "surprised" that two of Italy's three big trade-union confederations, CGIL and UIL, announced they would stage a general strike on December 16 in protest at the government's budget bill.
    CGIL and UIL said the package was "unsatisfactory" when it came to tax cuts, pension reforms, industrial policy, preventing multinational transferring production outside Italy and tackling the "precarious" position many people experience on the labour market, especially the young and women.
    The third big confederation, the CISL, said it would not take part in the protest, saying it opposed initiatives that could heighten social tensions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Orlando said Tuesday that the budget "reinforce guarantees for workers". (ANSA).