Strikes threat to Italy's transport

Venetians blocked the Grand Canal as part of a protest over restricted access

ROME, Italy -- Italy is braced for a threatened week of transportation strikes.

The strikes, which are due to begin on Monday, have been called by the CGIL union in protest against government reforms to the nation's labour laws.

he government plan aims to give small businesses more flexibility by making it less difficult to fire new hires.

The rotating four-hour strikes of CGIL-affiliated employees begin with ferry workers striking on Monday, rail workers on Tuesday, public transport workers on Thursday, and airport workers on Friday.

In April, the CGIL and two other unions -- the CISL and UIL -- staged the country's biggest general strike in 20 years to protest against the reform. (Story)

But CISL and UIL came to an agreement Friday with the government, leaving CGIL the sole opponent.

Prior to the main week of strikes hundreds of Venetians blocked the main canals with their boats in a protest at plans to restrict their access to the lagoon city's waterways.

Tourists were stranded on the water as residents lined their small boats across the waterway, blew whistles and waved banners reading "Keep the lagoon for the Venetians."

The council wants to limit traffic along the canals in the city centre to prevent damage to the historic palazzos and buildings that line the waterways.

But residents say they are being denied access to boat routes which they use for everything from shopping and fishing to Sunday outings.

"Ninety-five percent of Venice will be closed to the Venetians," one angry local resident said, "We can't sail down our own waterways or we get fined."