Overview
- Rail services were heavily disrupted and many schools canceled classes, with some health services affected during the CGIL-led walkout.
- CGIL estimated 61% participation across public and private sectors and more than 500,000 marchers in major cities, with police counts not immediately available.
- Union chief Maurizio Landini led a rally in Florence, calling the budget "unfair, wrong and dangerous" and citing low pay as the main social emergency.
- The government said the budget strengthens public finances and cuts taxes for middle earners, pointing to favorable reactions from markets and ratings agencies.
- The strike capped weeks of labor actions in Italy and followed a major Portuguese walkout, as parliament readies to debate and approve the budget by year-end.