Transport workers in Italy have gone on strike, forcing the cancellation of thousands of bus, tram and subway lines and snarling traffic across the country.

Railway workers have been on a 24-hour strike since 9 p.m. Sunday. Local transport workers went on strike at 8:30 a.m. in Rome and 15 minutes later in Milan.

The railway company says some commuter trains will continue running. Labor unions says service will be guaranteed during the morning and evening rush hours.

The unions called the strikes to put pressure on upcoming contract renewal talks.

Please remember if Amtrak goes on strike, Penn Station will be closed to all train service including LIRR.

Workers for Amtrak could strike as early as the 30th of January now that a board appointed by President George W. Bush has completed its report.

USA Today reported that the workers, whose cause has been bolstered by the board’s general agreement with them, are still hoping to meet with management in an effort to avert the strike. Amtrak officials say they are still studying the report.

If a strike does take place, all inter-city Amtrak services across the country will come to a halt, and many commuter rail operations in major northeastern cities, including New York City and Boston, would be badly disrupted.

It would be the first strike in Amtrak’s history.

Some 10,000 Amtrak workers have been working without a contract since 2000.