Public transportation, schools, healthcare, and civil services are at the center of a nationwide general strike in Italy organized by the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) in protest against the government’s budget plan. The strike gained momentum after a Lazio regional court temporarily suspended an order from Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, which sought to limit work stoppages to just four hours. The industrial action is set to continue until midnight, with demonstrations planned in nearly all major Italian cities.
The transport sector has been hit particularly hard. Trenitalia’s strike, which began at 9 p.m. yesterday, will last until the same time tonight, causing cancellations and delays that could spill over beyond the official end of the protest. Guaranteed services include trains already in transit when the strike began, provided they can reach their destinations within an hour. Essential routes will operate during peak commuter hours, from 6 to 9 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.
In Milan, metro services are running only during protected time slots, while in Rome, buses and subways are operating on a limited schedule, with interruptions from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 8 p.m. until the end of service. Trenord has arranged replacement buses for the Milan Cadorna–Malpensa Airport route, and real-time updates for regional and suburban train services are available via the company’s app.
The strike is a direct response to the government’s economic policies currently under debate in Parliament, which the USB claims exacerbate social inequalities. “Wages are failing to keep pace with inflation, and the proposed three-euro increase to minimum pensions is an insult,” union representatives stated. Key grievances also include skyrocketing rent prices, precarious employment conditions, and increasingly demanding workloads.
The protests are also addressing broader issues such as differentiated regional autonomy, restrictions on the right to strike, and workplace fatalities. One recent tragedy involved a Mercitalia Rail train driver who was fatally struck by a train in Reggio Emilia just days ago. This incident led the CubTrasporti union to call for an additional strike today from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Healthcare and education workers have also joined the strike, resulting in reduced hospital services and canceled classes at many schools and universities. Meanwhile, public broadcaster RAI journalists have voiced their discontent over unsustainable working conditions and the failure to renew their collective bargaining agreement, which expired over a year ago. “We refuse to be the government’s underpaid mouthpiece,” read a statement from USB, which also criticized proposed budget cuts. These include a planned 2% reduction in RAI’s expenses by 2026, increasing to 4% by 2027, potentially jeopardizing the public broadcaster’s structure.
Major demonstrations are taking place in Milan and Rome. In Milan, the march began at 10 a.m. from Porta Venezia, while in Rome, protesters gathered at Piazzale Tiburtino. Despite the rain, turnout has been significant, with banners and chants denouncing government policies and advocating for workers’ rights.
For travelers affected by disruptions, Trenitalia is offering refunds or the option to reschedule trips. For Intercity and Frecce trains, refunds can be requested up until the train’s scheduled departure time. For regional trains, requests can be submitted until midnight the day before the strike. Applications can be made online, at ticket offices, or via the company’s app.
