Alitalia workers wrap up voting on deal to save airline

ROME – Alitalia employees have wrapped up voting on a government-brokered deal to save Italy's flagship airline from bankruptcy.

Some 12,500 Alitalia workers began voting last week on whether to accept a package offering less drastic wage cuts and fewer layoffs than first proposed. Parent company Etihad Airways wants the cost-cutting in hopes of securing 2 billion euros ($2.1 billion) in investment to keep the airline afloat.

Premier Paolo Gentiloni has said without a deal, Alitalia won't survive.

The deal would cut flight crews' wages by an average of 8 percent and see some 980 permanent workers laid off.

Economic Development Minister Carlo Calenda had warned that a no-vote would lead to six months of extraordinary administration followed by bankruptcy.

Union leaders urged workers they described as understandably angry to vote yes.