Italian doctors continue strike action

Hospital doctors in Italy held a 24 hour strike last week and plan a similar stoppage on 18 December. The doctors' protest is mainly over their contract, which expired five years ago and has not been renewed, and over pay. Hospital pharmacists, physicists, and vets employed by the state also joined in the action.

Negotiations on pay increases are in fact under way, but the doctors' representatives have found themselves across the table from Aran, the agency for negotiations in the public administration. They would prefer to negotiate directly with the …