Trade unions confirm strike in response to budget.

Two of Italy's biggest trade unions on Monday confirmed that a national general strike against the government's budget would go ahead as planned on Friday 29 November.

The announcement came despite lengthy talks between the government and delegations from the CGIL and UIL, led respectively by Maurizio Landini and Pierpaolo Bombardieri, and various other unions.

The talks, attended by prime minister Giorgia Meloni and several government ministers, were aimed at averting the eight-hour strike which is expected to impact sectors including schools, public offices, factories and public transport.

Unions say the industrial action is in response to the government's "inadequate" budget, amid demands salary and pension increases and more spending on healthcare, education, public services and industrial policies.

Italy has faced a recent spate of strikes affecting air travel, trains and local public transport, with a strike by air traffic controllers and baggage handlers set to cause disruption in airports around the country on Tuesday 12 November.

For official information about public transport strikes in Italy see the transport ministry website.

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