TWO THOUSAND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS HAVE MARCHED THROUGH ROME TO BACK THEIR DEMANDS FOR MORE PAY AND FIVE-DAY WEEK. A CROSS ITALY MORE THAN TWO MILLION DISGRUNTLED WORKERS HAVE THREATENED TO GO ON STRIKE OVER WAGES AND CONDITIONS.

WORKERS FROM MORE THAN HALF A DOZEN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES HAVE GONE ON STRIKE THIS WEEK OR THREATENED TO STRIKE SOON. ALTOGETHER ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILLION WORKERS ARE EXPECTED TO STRIKE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS IF THEIR DEMANDS ARE NOT MET.

AMONG THOSE THREATENING TO STRIKE DURING THE AUTUMN ARE ITALY'S COUNTRY DOCTORS WHO ARE DEMANDING A DAY OFF A WEEK, ANNUAL HOLIDAY, AND FIXED WORKING HOURS. THE DOCTORS, WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES, ARE AT PRESENT ON DUTY 24 HOURS A DAY.

ON WEDNESDAY (SEPTEMBER 17) TWO THOUSAND STRIKING CONSTRUCTION WORKERS MARCHED THROUGH THE STREETS OF ROME CARRYING BANNERS AND SINGING AND WHISTLING TO BACK THEIR PAY AND WORK CLAIMS.

BY THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK SOME HALF A MILLION WORKERS FROM THE CHEMICALS PHARMACEUTICAL, CEMENT, AND STATE ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES, HAD GONE ON STRIKE.

THOSE THREATENING TO STRIKE INCLUDED POST AND TELEGRAPH WORKERS, RAILWAYMEN, STATE ELECTRICITY WORKERS AND STATE SOCIAL INSURANCE WORKERS.