ROME – A widespread transport strike called by subway and bus employees across Rome has brought the city to a standstill on Friday. The industrial action led to protests by several hundred passengers who refused to leave a train when the driver went on strike.

 Thousands of citizens in the Eternal City were left nonplussed when buses and underground services were stopped at a designated time earlier on Friday. Police were called to diffuse a situation at the Arco da Travertino metro station where despite repeated calls to vacate the train, passengers engaged in a sit-in protest when the driver went on strike.

 According to Valentina Iori, the secretary of the UGL union, which represents those on strike, the industrial action occurred as a protest against new regulations concerning days off, introduced by transport company ATAC, which controls the vast majority of public transportation services in Rome. Employees will be forced to earn reduced pay if they are off work due to illness or family illness.