Trade unions in Italy are not allowed to strike during the holiday period 17 Dec-8 Jan but stoppages in the transport sector are scheduled before these dates. Railway workers belonging to the Orsa trade union have announced a 24-hour train strike from 21.00 on Thurs 11 Dec. For information on trains tel. 892021. A national 24-hour strike of buses, trams and metros is likely on Mon 15 Dec, although negotiations are underway to avoid a repeat of the chaos in Italy's cities, particularly Milan, earlier this month when the metropolitan transport systems were brought to a halt by industrial action. For information on the situation in Rome tel. 800431784 and www.atac.roma.it