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Gas station operators in Italy go on strike

Thursday, 26 January 2023 2:46 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 26 January 2023 3:34 AM ]

Max Civili
Press TV, Rome

On Wednesday, trade unions Faib, Fegica and Figisc-Anisa called for a two-day strike to protest at -QUOTE - being hit with a wave of mud over high fuel prices.

The trade unions say a decree recently passed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's cabinet, that the government says is aimed at boosting the transparency of fuel prices, has badly penalized gas-station operators.

Under the decree, petrol stations are obliged to display the national average price for petrol and diesel alongside the price at which they sell fuel to customers in a bid to stop speculative hikes.

Prices have risen sharply in January since a cut on fuel excise duties expired. The cut was introduced about a year ago by the previous government of Mario Draghi in an effort to reduce fuel prices. Excise duties now account for over half of the price consumers pay for fuel.

Later on Wednesday, trade unions were divided over the duration of the industrial action, with some groups cutting their strike to 24 hours.

Also on Wednesday, a delegation of taxi drivers tried to meet Rome's mayor to discuss plans to deregulate their sector. According to unionists, the deregulation will open taxi drivers up to unfair competition with web-based ride-sharing companies.

Protests staged by taxi drivers in the Italian capital have often turned nasty, with demonstrations spreading across the country.

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