Gas stations stage three-day strike in Italy

Rome, December 16 (RHC)-- Italy's gas station operators have been staging a strike since Monday to demand the Italian government include them among the recipients of support measures to mitigate the nefarious impact of anti-COVID restrictions.

It is the latest in a string of gas station strikes over market conditions and aid measures during the pandemic emergency.  In late November, another three day strike had been called by sector unions and organizations and staged on the country's highways.

Gas retailers’ associations complain that gas stations have suffered losses amounting to 90% of their revenues on Italy's highways and around 60% of their income in urban areas during the lockdown.  They say it is no longer possible to meet overheads and fixed costs in the current situation. 

Last month, the Italian government issued a package of aid for the businesses and families most affected by the new anti-Covid restrictions.  As many as 211 thousand companies have received support funds totaling over 960 million Euros.

New talks between the government and retail groups are likely to be held in the coming days, as the 3-day strike comes to an end on Thursday.