Citing a lack of government response for more than seven months, transport workers in Italy began a nationwide strike today to demand the renewal of their expired labor contracts, Reuters reports. With the exception of evening's rush hour, transportation services have been suspended in the majority of cities– bringing the country's trains, buses and subways to a standstill.
Francesco Lucirino, secretary general of the Cosnil union, expects the strike to cost the nation's transport system at least 350,000 euros. Striking began with train workers late Sunday night, and it will continue for weeks as airport workers have scheduled to strike later this month.