Italy’s national strike called by main union disrupts transport and school services
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Article contentROME (AP) — A national strike called on Friday by Italy’s largest trade union in protest against the government’s budget plans widely disrupted transportation, health and school services across the country.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentThe protest, which targets the 2026 budget bill proposed by the conservative government of Premier Giorgia Meloni, comes just two weeks after another general strike organized by smaller trade unions, with the same motivations.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentThe strike mainly hit railway transportation, with cancellations and delays registered for both long-distance and regional trains. Public schools across the country canceled classes, forcing students to stay home because of a lack of local public transportation in many cities.Article contentArticle contentThe CGIL union listed the reasons for the strike in a statement, including demands for greater investments in healthcare, education and housing rights, along with measures to tackle workplace safety.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentCGIL secretary-general Maurizio Landini, who led a rally in Florence on Friday morning, criticized the budget as “unfair, wrong and dangerous.” He said that the main social emergency is now represented by low wages, and that government measures don’t address that.Article contentTens of thousands of workers took to the streets on Friday as demonstrations and rallies supporting the strike took place from north to south.Article contentWhen the protest was announced last month, Meloni and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini mocked the union for organizing the strike as usual on a Friday, suggesting that it was an excuse for a long weekend.Article contentThey also defended the government’s budget bill, saying it addresses the citizens’ needs for lower fiscal pressure and more financial help for families.Article contentItaly’s national strike comes just a day after the one called by Portugal’s two main trade union confederations, which severely disrupted travel Thursday and forced the cancellation of many medical appointments and school classes.Article contentThe two labor groups representing close to a million Portuguese workers said that it could be the country’s biggest walkout in more than a decade as they contested the center-right government’s planned changes to employment laws.Article contentTrending Canadian households boost their wealth to another record high of $18.4 trillion with ‘supercharged' financial asset growth Wealth Couple's TFSAs, RRSPs and non-registered accounts are 90% equities. Should they be more conservative toward retirement? Personal Finance CRA penalized taxpayer for repeated failure to report income Personal Finance Posthaste: Canadian investors love the Big Six banks more than is good for them, this adviser says News Canadian oilsands majors aim to hold spending steady as broader industry braces for tough year Oil & Gas Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Canadian households boost their wealth to another record high of $18.4 trillion with ‘supercharged' financial asset growth Wealth Couple's TFSAs, RRSPs and non-registered accounts are 90% equities. Should they be more conservative toward retirement? Personal Finance CRA penalized taxpayer for repeated failure to report income Personal Finance Posthaste: Canadian investors love the Big Six banks more than is good for them, this adviser says News Canadian oilsands majors aim to hold spending steady as broader industry braces for tough year Oil & Gas