Italy General Strike Brings Protests to More Than 50 Cities Over Living Costs

Thousands of workers, students and farmers took to the streets across Italy on Friday, Oct. 30, in a nationwide general strike called by the Unione Sindacale di Base, known as USB. Demonstrations were held in more than 50 cities, with the largest rallies in Milan, Turin and Rome, CNN reported. The strike ran for 24 hours, from 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, to 9 p.m. on Friday, according to a travel warning issued by the British Foreign Office.

The union called the action over low wages, declining purchasing power, rising living costs and working conditions, InTrieste reported. Teachers and workers from the agricultural and healthcare sectors were among those who joined the marches, and protesters in several cities also pointed to the poor state of public services such as healthcare and education.

Marches across the country

In Milan, demonstrators waved USB flags and carried placards aimed at Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her right wing government. One placard read: "Let's oust the Meloni government, rebellion is just," CNN reported. In Naples, some protesters burnt photos of Meloni. In Turin, farmers dumped manure on the streets, and students faced police officers in the city centre.

In Trieste, thousands of demonstrators were expected to march from Varco 4 on Via della Rampa, near the commercial port, through the city centre to Piazza Liberta near the railway station, InTrieste reported. Marches were also planned in Bologna, Florence, Naples and Palermo, among other cities.

Different cities, different demands

The demands varied by location. In Genoa, dockworkers mobilised against the militarisation of the port and sought to block the export of arms shipments to conflict zones, and protesters set flares and tyres on fire at the main intersection between the port and the highway, CNN reported. In Bologna, students called on the government to review education policy. The Interior Ministry said preventative arrests were made ahead of the marches on Friday morning, and clashes between protesters and police still occurred in places.

Transport largely kept moving

Transport workers had been expected to join the strike, but Transport Minister Matteo Salvini ordered them to postpone their walkout, citing restrictions on strikes in essential services in the period around All Souls' Day on Nov. 2. The USB rejected the intervention and said it intended to proceed with the wider strike despite the possibility of sanctions, and it urged taxi drivers to go ahead with their stoppage. Rail services were expected to operate normally on Friday after the rail strike was postponed under the ministry order.

The British Foreign Office warned travellers that the strike could disrupt rail and air travel, taxis, highways, local public transport, schools and government offices, and advised travellers to check with their provider. The strike day fell just ahead of the All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day holidays, a busy travel period in Italy.