USB confirms air transport strike Friday

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 18 - The USB union on Thursday confirmed a 24-hour air transport strike in Italy Friday.
    USB confirmed the 24-hour national strike in air transport except "for the territories and routes affected by the disastrous floods of recent days" in Emilia Romagna, said a Usb note underlining that on Wednesday the national strike had already been called off for the territory of Emilia Romagna and the routes to and from the airports of Bologna and Forlì.
    "For this reason we were very surprised by the letter sent only this afternoon by Minister Salvini calling for the cancellation of the entire national strike called for months on many relevant and urgent issues.", said the union.
    Deputy Premier and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini earlier asked unions to postpone Friday's planned nationwide air transport sector strike in consideration of existing transport disruptions caused by flooding in Emilia Romagna, transport ministry sources said on Thursday.
    The sources said Salvini was in "direct contact" with union leaders and that he "is counting on everyone's common sense".
    USB and CUB transport unions have called the 24-hour strike in protest over "exploitation, starvation wages, precariousness and layoffs" although they said flights in the 7-10 am and 6-9 pm time slots and services in Emilia-Romagna would be guaranteed.
    CUB has also confirmed the strike. (ANSA).