After decades of financial struggles, Alitalia flew its last flight on October 14, bringing an end to its 74-year history.
A new national airline, ITA Airways, began flying the next day, using some of Alitalia’s aircraft.
It also bought the Alitalia brand, but has re-hired only 2800 of the almost 11,000 Alitalia staff, amid claims by unions that the workers were taken on with significantly lower salaries.
The ex-Alitalia employees were protesting over the loss of jobs and the working conditions of colleagues re-hired by the slimmed-down ITA Airways.
Standing in rows on Capitoline Hill, the female protesters slowly lowered their company shoulder bags to the cobblestone pavement, before removing their overcoats, uniform jackets and skirts, then stepping out of their high-heeled shoes, in a symbolic refusal to accept the situation.
After stripping down to their undergarments, the hostesses remained in silence for several minutes before picking up their clothes and chanting: “We are Alitalia!”
A spokesperson for the group said the choreographed protest was designed to show solidarity with colleagues “who were forced to sign a humiliating and mortifying company contract”.
ITA airways launched with 2800 employees – 70 per cent of them from Alitalia – and said it expects to increase the size of its workforce to 5750 by 2025.
