Big 3 Labor Unions Call for 1-Day Strike

Italian unions announced a one-day general strike for April 16 to denounce government plans for labor reform, but Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi shrugged off the planned protest and vowed to press ahead.

The showdown with the big three unions, which together represent about 12 million people, is shaping up to be the worst labor dispute in Italy in 20 years and could stunt the country’s fragile economic recovery.

The government says its reform would boost labor flexibility and bring Italian laws into line with European norms. Unions say the changes would make it easier to fire staff and offer no welfare safety net for the unemployed.