by InTrieste
Italy is set to face two national general strikes within a two-week span, as trade unions protest the government’s newly announced 2026 budget under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The first nationwide strike, scheduled for Nov. 28, has been called by the USB and CUB unions and will affect both public and private sectors. The unions say the budget fails to invest adequately in public services and claim it exacerbates wage stagnation and contract delays.
The walkout is expected to disrupt public transportation, schools, healthcare, air travel, motorways, and public administration. In its announcement, the USB urged workers to “block everything,” echoing recent mass demonstrations supporting Gaza. The union criticized what it called a “war budget,” urging the government to lower the retirement age to 62, set a minimum starting wage of €2,000 for all national contracts, and increase investment in social housing and healthcare “instead of buying and manufacturing new weapons.”
Disruptions to Rail and Air Travel
Railway workers are scheduled to strike from 9 p.m. on Nov. 27 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 28, affecting employees of Trenitalia, Gruppo FS, Trenitalia Tper in Emilia-Romagna, Trenord, and private operator Italo, which has published a list of guaranteed services.
Trenitalia has also released its list of long-distance trains that will run during the strike. Essential regional rail services will operate during the guaranteed time slots of 6 to 9 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.
Air travel will also face widespread disruption, with participation expected from flight crews, baggage handlers, airport ground staff, and other airport service workers. The civil aviation authority, ENAC, reminds passengers that flights scheduled between 7 and 10 a.m. and 6 and 7 p.m. are guaranteed during strikes. A list of protected flights is available on its website.
Healthcare, Schools, and Other Services
Healthcare workers will participate from Thursday night’s first shift through Friday’s final shift, though emergency and urgent care will remain guaranteed.
The Unicobas union has called for a full-day strike of teaching and administrative staff in schools, universities, and research centers. Taxis and some ferry services are also expected to be affected. Motorway workers will strike from 10 p.m. on Nov. 27 to the same time on Nov. 28.
Protests are planned in cities across the country on Nov. 29, including a demonstration in Rome.
A Second National Strike on Dec. 12
Italy’s largest union, CGIL, has announced a separate nationwide strike for Dec. 12, also aimed at challenging the government’s budget. CGIL Secretary General Maurizio Landini called the budget “unfair and mistaken,” saying it fails to address wage stagnation. “The fundamental emergency right now is wages,” he said. “This budget doesn’t do that.”
CGIL is calling for renewed national labor contracts and greater investment in healthcare, education, local governments, long-term care, and housing, along with stronger measures against job insecurity and workplace accidents.
The 21-hour strike will run from shortly after midnight on Dec. 11 until 9 p.m. on Dec. 12, according to the transport ministry.
The strike announcement prompted tense exchanges between labor leaders and government officials. Shortly after the date was made public, Ms. Meloni mocked the choice of a Friday strike with a sarcastic comment on social media. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini also suggested that CGIL was engineering a “long weekend.”
Mr. Landini dismissed the remarks as disrespectful. “When someone goes on strike, they’re giving up their salary,” he said. “It’s not free.” He added that the salaries of both politicians are funded by workers’ taxes.
Public transport strike updates are posted regularly, and official information is available on the transport ministry website.
