Former Alitalia flight attendants participated in a solemn flash mob in Rome to protest pay cuts and job losses in the Italian aviation industry.
After Alitalia succumbed to its financial woes last month, flying its final flight on 14 October, the brand was bought by new airline ITA, along with some of the airline’s planes.
However, ITA only took on less than $3,000 of Alitalia’s 10,000 employees and union officials have accused the airline of hiring new staff with significantly lower pay, according to CBS.
On 20 October, about 60 former flight attendants lined up on Capitoline Hill and removed their uniforms and shoes slowly, and in synch.
Former flight attendants of the bankrupt airline Alitalia stripped off their uniforms in a flash mob, protesting job losses and pay cuts for those rehired by Italy's new national carrier ITA airline.
Alitalia flew its last flight a week ago, leaving some 7,000 employees jobless. pic.twitter.com/fkbN7YDDFK
— DW News (@dwnews) October 22, 2021
Standing barefoot and wearing just their slips, the women began to chant “We are Alitalia!” as passers-by cheered and applauded their performance.
According to La Repubblica, many of the protesters burst into tears and hugged each other.
One told the Italian news outlet that they had gathered to express their pain and solidarity for themselves and their colleagues who were forced to sign ITA’s “humiliating” company contract.
Featured image source: La Repubblica
