Italian gas station owners, operators call strike to protest ‘speculative price hikes’

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) - Three major unions representing Italian gas station owners and operators called a nationwide strike to protest “speculative price hikes” after the government ended a reduction in fuel duties at the start of 2023, local media said Thursday.

The Faib-Confesercenti, Fegica, Figisc-Confcommercio unions said the decision was made “to put an end to this wave of mud against a group of honest workers and try to re-establish the truth,” according to the state-run ANSA news agency.

Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto said it was the "legitimate right" of the associations to call a strike.

Prosecutors and the antitrust agency are looking into the increases after complaints by the consumer association, said the agency, adding that the government issued a decree Tuesday to boost the transparency of fuel prices to stop speculative hikes.

Gas stations will have to show the average national price for fuel alongside their prices.

There will also be a cap on how high fuel prices can be set at stations on motorways.