Trade unions call strike in response to budget. Eight-hour strike will affect all public and private sectors. Transport strike action cut to four hours by government.

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

The eight-hour strike is expected to impact sectors including schools, healthcare, air travel, public offices, factories, ferries and local public transport.

The strike is set to go ahead despite lengthy talks last week between unions leaders and the government, represented by prime minister Giorgia Meloni and finance minister Giancarlo Giorgietti.

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

In a statement, Italian flag carrier ITA Airways said that as a result of the strike it had been forced to cancel 39 domestic flights scheduled for Friday.

Sciopero generale di venerdì ridotto a 4 ore per trasporto pubblico locale, aerei e trasporto marittimo, confermando l’esclusione dallo stop di treni e trasporto merci su rotaia.
Il diritto alle rivendicazioni sindacali non può paralizzare lavoratori, cittadini e studenti. pic.twitter.com/MER7sbKLrf

— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) November 27, 2024

Italy's transport minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday issued an injunction to limit the strike to four hours in relation to public transport services.

As a result, the municipal public transport providers in Rome and Milan - ATAC and ATM respectively - reduced their strike schedule to 09.00-13.00.

The strike will not affect train services on Italy's rail network, however, after railway workers held a 24-hour strike over the weekend.

Italy has faced a recent spate of strikes affecting air travel, trains and local public transport.

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

This article was first published on 30 October 2024, updated 28 November 2024. Photo credit: GIACOMO MORINI / Shutterstock.com.