ITALY: Flop

The C.G.I.L., Italy's Communist-dominated Confederation of Labor, tried to stage a one-day general strike. Purported reason: to protest the deaths of two peasants who had tried to seize idle land and been killed in battles with police. The strike was an even more dismal flop than the walkout staged by Communists in France last fortnight (TIME, Dec. 5). The Italian strike stopped the steel and auto factories of the north; it was partly effective in the ports, and in urban transport systems. Nevertheless, millions of workers ignored the strike order. Instead of being paralyzed, Italy felt only a few...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!