Hundreds of thousands of workers across Italy went on a 24-hour national strike on Friday, disrupting public transport, schools, healthcare, and other key services to protest the government’s draft budget for 2026.
The strike was organised by Italy’s largest trade union, the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL), opposing the 18-billion-euro (21.1 billion U.S. dollars) budget package approved by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s cabinet in mid-October. The draft budget still requires parliamentary approval and may be amended before the end of the year.
Public sector operations, including education, healthcare, local transport, and postal services, were partially halted, and several private companies were also affected. Organisers reported around 500,000 people joined demonstrations nationwide, according to the ANSA news agency.
Major rallies took place in Rome, Milan, Bologna, and Florence. In Florence, CGIL leader Maurizio Landini addressed an estimated crowd of 100,000, urging the government to adopt stronger fiscal measures to support working-class families, pensioners, and youth, and to improve access to affordable housing and public transport.
The draft budget is currently under review by the Senate’s finance committee and will later be debated and voted on by both chambers of parliament.