Alitalia staff set to strike over cost-cutting measures including calls for cabin crew to tidy plane toilets
- Negotiations between unions and the airline over new plans have broken down
- Staff at the Italian airline are set to strike on February 23 over slew of demands
- One measure they object to is having to tidy cabin toilets on long-haul journeys
Staff at Italian airline Alitalia are set to strike on February 23 after a series of negotiations broke down over widespread cost-saving measures.
Union sources reported that cabin crew and ground personnel have objected to salary cuts, changes in shift patterns and demands for teams to tidy aircraft bathrooms on long-haul flights.
The measures are part of an initiative to ensure the loss-making airline provides a more productive turnaround.
Union sources reported that Alitalia staff have objected to salary cuts, changes in shift patterns and demands for teams to tidy aircraft bathrooms on long-haul flights (file image)
At the talks in Rome, representatives from the airline stressed the importance of achieving savings from labour costs, according to Italian daily newspaper La Republicca.
For ground staff the airline wants to adjust working hours and for cabin crew to cut their summer holidays and reduce annual leave.
To make the airline more productive a proposal has been put forward for air hostesses and stewards to tidy up the cabin's toilets, stocking up soap, toilet paper and paper towels in the cubicles.
These duties would be extended to long-haul flights. They already take place on short-haul trips.
Cabin crew reportedly already tidy cabins and bathrooms on short-haul Alitalia flights (file image)
Last December, Alitalia's board of directors gave the green light for the second phase of the airline's business plan and began 60-day negotiations with key stakeholders.
At the time, Cramer Ball, Alitalia's Chief Executive Officer, said: 'The next two months are critical for Alitalia.
'It is vitally important that the airline's workforce and major stakeholders, such as corporate partners, suppliers and unions, embrace and accept the radical changes we need in order to gain the next round of significant funding from our shareholders, which will be crucial for our future.
'Everyone has to pull in the same direction to make Alitalia a viable, sustainable success story and help the airline achieve its ambition of long-term growth and profitability.'
The airline revealed that no final decisions on staff reductions had yet been taken and that a consultation would begin.
Mr Ball added: 'We are committed to work positively with the unions and reach consensus on a new collective labour agreement. Their backing on the implementation of the next phase of the business plan is vital.
'We have achieved great progress in the last two years but the commercial aviation market is brutally unforgiving so we need to go further with our programme of change. We need a business that is the right size, the right shape and with the right productivity and cost base. If we can deliver those, Alitalia will succeed.'
MailOnline Travel has approached Alitalia for comment.
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