National strike in Italy

Large sections of the Italian economy, including public transport, schools and parts of the health service were halted on 29 November by a national strike called by two of the country’s three main union confederations, CGIL and UIL.

They were protesting against the government’s tax and spending plans for 2025 which, they say, aim to reduce the government deficit by cutting social spending rather than carrying out a real tax reform.

The third confederation, CISL, did not take part in the strike. Its general secretary, Luigi Sbarra, has expressed a “positive” judgement of the government’s plans.