MILAN, December 1, Italy telecommunications unions are planning to call a strike at Telecom Italia TIM amid uncertainty surrounding its latest boardroom crisis and proposed takeover by U.S. fundKKR KKR, just before a boardroom row forced group CEO Luigi Gubitosi to step down after two profit warnings since July.
TIM set up a special committee to study the KKR bid last week, which placed the oversight of the group's strategic assets in the hands of Chairman Salvatore Rossi.
The unions have expressed concerns over the future of TIM's 42,500 workers in Italy and have told the company they will not accept any reorganisation that puts jobs at risk, according to a document seen by Reuters.
A strike at TIM could be called within 10 days, according to Riccardo Saccone of the SLC-Cgil union.
TIM was not immediately available for comment.
Any takeover deal is conditional upon support from TIM's board and the Italian government, as well as due diligence expected to last four weeks.
Rome has said that Rome's response to KKR will depend on plans for the network that it sees as strategic. The second-biggest shareholder of TIM is Cassa Depositi e Prestiti.