Thousands of public sector and transport workers took part in a strike called by unions today to protest the 2024 Budget of the Government of George Meloni.
The strikers accuse Meloni and her government of using the scarce resources available in the 2023 budget to win over voters ahead of next year’s European elections to the detriment of workers and pensioners.
“Melons, people are hungry,” read a banner held by protesters gathered in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo, and thousands of people demonstrated in the streets of Genoa and Milan.
Two of Italy’s three main trade union confederations – the General Italian Confederation of Labor (CGIL) and the Italian Union of Labor (UIL) – are at the heart of this strike, accusing the government of taking resources away from key sectors such as health, education and industry.
Teachers, health workers, taxi drivers and postal workers were also called to take part in the eight-hour nationwide strike.
Metallurgists and tradesmen were also invited to participate in the strike.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who is also the Minister of Transport, imposed restrictions on the strike to reduce problems in the transport sector, drawing the ire of union leaders, BTA reported.
General Secretary of the General Italian Confederation of Labor Maurizio Landini accused Salvini of “attacking the right to strike”.
