Workers in Italy's automotive sector will go on strike on Oct. 18, the main metalworkers unions said Tuesday, in protest of declining output from Stellantis, the biggest carmaker in the country. The unions also called for a national demonstration in Rome on the same day.

MILAN (Reuters) -Italian unions have called a one day strike on Oct. 18 for metal workers at Stellantis and its local suppliers to protest against the automaker's falling production in the country, the head of the UILM union said on Tuesday.

The transatlantic automaker registered a sharp drop in output at most of its Italian plants in the first half of 2024.

Operations at Stellantis' Italian factories have been repeatedly halted in recent months, mainly due to poor market demand, especially for EVs, with workers put on furlough programs.

Workers with Italian-French carmaker Stellantis and the entire automotive sector will strike on Friday, October 18, labour unions Fim, Fiom and Uilm said Tuesday. The unions will organize a national demonstration in Rome.