Italy is bracing for a day of widespread disruption on Friday as trade unions stage strikes and demonstrations across the country, targeting the rising cost of living and the government's shift of public funds towards military expenditure.
The grassroots union Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) has called on workers in both the public and private sectors to walk out, with a major rally planned in Rome. Student protests are also expected to return to the streets of major Italian cities, adding to the pressure on authorities to maintain public order.
In a separate action, the Cobas unions, together with Adl, Clap and Sial, have called for a general strike across the public and private sectors, excluding transport. The coordinated action reflects growing frustration among workers who say their wages are being eroded by inflation while the government prioritises defence spending.
Transport disruption and global dockworker action
Rail services will be affected from 21:00 on Thursday until 20:59 on Friday, while air transport strikes are set to last the entire day. Local public transport will be hit unevenly, with some cities seeing more severe disruption than others. Taxi services are also expected to be affected throughout Friday, and motorway staff will begin their strike on Thursday evening.
Beyond Italy's borders, dockworkers are mobilising globally against arms trafficking, rearmament policies and the militarisation of ports. The action has been organised by several unions, including USB in Italy, the CGT in France, and other trade union organisations in Greece, Turkey, Morocco and the Basque Country. According to organisers, workers from more than 100 ports in 17 countries across four continents will take part.
In Italy, the port protests will affect key hubs including Genoa, Livorno, Trieste, Civitavecchia, Ancona, Ravenna and Gioia Tauro. These ports are vital to the country's trade, and the strike is likely to cause significant delays in cargo handling.
Union demands: wages, prices and the 'scala mobile'
Among USB's key demands is a call for wages to rise in line with the cost of living, including through the reintroduction of the scala mobile – a mechanism previously used in Italy to automatically adjust wages to inflation. The union is also urging the government to take measures to reduce the cost of essential goods, household bills and rents, and to cut VAT on basic necessities.
The protests come at a time when many Italian households are struggling to make ends meet. According to recent data, inflation has outpaced wage growth for several years, eroding purchasing power. The unions argue that the government's increased military spending – driven by NATO commitments and the war in Ukraine – is diverting resources away from social needs.
Friday's strikes are also a test for the government's ability to manage public order, as students are set to join the demonstrations in all main cities. The interior ministry is expected to deploy additional police forces to prevent clashes.
The broader European context is one of rising social tensions over the cost of living, as seen in how net income buys a comfortable life across Europe. While Italy's situation is particularly acute, similar protests have occurred in France, Greece and other member states.
The dockworkers' global action also highlights a growing unease among labour movements about the militarisation of ports and the arms trade. The organisers argue that public money should be spent on social welfare and infrastructure, not on weapons that fuel conflicts.
As the strike day approaches, commuters and businesses are bracing for significant disruption. The government has yet to respond to the unions' demands, but the scale of the mobilisation suggests that the issue will remain high on the political agenda.
