Italy
The Costa Concordia disaster and the profit drive of the cruise business
By Martin Nowak, February 2, 2012
Two weeks after the sinking of the Costa Concordia, the dirty side of the lucrative cruise business is increasingly coming to light.
Growing strikes against austerity policies in Italy
By Mike Jobson, February 1, 2012
Strikes and protests continue in Italy after strikes by truckers and fishermen against austerity policies paralysed the country early last week.
Striking truckers, fishermen clash with Italian government
By Mike Jobson, January 27, 2012
Yesterday the government of Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti moved to crush protests by truckers, fishermen, and other professions hit by Monti’s unpopular social attacks.
Aluminum giant Alcoa closes plant in Sardinia
By Mike Jobson, January 26, 2012
On January 9, the aluminum company Alcoa announced the closure of its primary aluminum plant in Portovesme, on the Italian island of Sardinia.
Italian truckers, taxi drivers mount national strike against social cuts
By Alex Lantier, January 24, 2012
Truckers and taxi drivers blocked roads and highways throughout Italy, as protests spread against the social cuts of Prime Minister Mario Monti.
Death toll likely to rise in Italian cruise ship tragedy
By Stefan Steinberg, January 19, 2012
Beyond the role played by the captain, an examination of the broader issues in the capsizing of the Costa Concordia cruise ship suggests that it was an accident waiting to happen.
Eleven dead, 29 missing as cruise ship runs aground in Italy
By James Brewer, January 17, 2012
Rescuers are still searching for survivors in a capsized ocean liner off the coast of Tuscany.
New Italian government tilts foreign policy towards Washington
By Marianne Arens, January 6, 2012
The new head of the Italian government has made significant changes in the country’s foreign policy.
Italian government attacks labour protection laws
By Marianne Arens and Peter Schwarz, January 5, 2012
Just before Christmas the Italian parliament adopted a package of austerity measures totalling €80 billion in cuts, hitting pensioners, workers and the socially disadvantaged.
Far-right fanatic guns down immigrants in Florence
By Stefan Steinberg, December 16, 2011
An Italian author with links to the extreme right shot down two immigrants and seriously wounded three others in Florence on Tuesday before taking his own life.
Italy: Technocrat Monti introduces new drastic austerity package
By Stefan Steinberg, December 6, 2011
In response to pressure from financial markets and European leaders, Italy’s new prime minister, Mario Monti, has moved quickly to introduce new austerity measures.
Italy’s Fiat terminates collective bargaining agreements
By Marc Wells, December 2, 2011
The decision by Fiat’s CEO Sergio Marchionne to terminate collective bargaining agreements starting by January 2012 is an historic attack on basic rights won by workers over decades of bitter struggle.
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