Italy is preparing for major disruption on Friday, November 28, when a general strike organised by Cobas, USB, SGB and Cub will affect transport, education, healthcare and public services. The protest coincides with a decisive phase of parliamentary debate on the government’s budget bill, escalating tensions between unions and the executive.
Transport will bear the brunt of the action. Train services will stop from 9 p.m. on November 27 until the same time the following day, with Italo already publishing its list of guaranteed connections. City transport networks are also expecting delays and cancellations, though conditions will vary from one area to another. In the air-travel sector, ground handlers and flight crews will walk out for the entire day, causing cancellations and delays outside the protected time slots (7–10 a.m. and 6–9 p.m.).
Hospitals will guarantee emergency services but could postpone non-urgent activities. Firefighters are set to strike for four hours, while schools may face widespread closures since the walkout involves all teaching and administrative staff. Public offices are also likely to operate with reduced personnel.
The unions argue that essential services are under strain and demand a shift in government priorities: stronger investment in healthcare, education, research and transport; stabilisation of precarious workers; renewed contracts; higher wages to match real inflation; and a significant cut in military spending. They claim the budget fails to address long-standing structural weaknesses and risks further weakening the public sector.
Alongside the strike, a demonstration is planned in Piazza Montecitorio, where organisers will present what they call the “people’s budget”, an alternative proposal to the government’s bill. Further protests are scheduled: the CGIL has called a general strike for December 12, while UIL and CISL will hold rallies on November 29 and December 13.
The government maintains that the budget combines fiscal stability with measures to encourage growth. Officials highlight tax cuts on wages, incentives for investment and the reintroduction of hyper-amortization for 2026. Points of contention remain within the majority itself, particularly regarding a proposed contribution on banks and the regulation of short-term rentals - issues that ministers say are approaching a workable compromise.