Italy hit by nationwide strike over cost of living, military spending and wars

MILAN, ITALY - OCT. 30, 2026: Workers across Italy staged a 24-hour general strike on Friday over the rising cost of living, military spending and ongoing wars, while tens of thousands of people joined demonstrations in cities across the country.

The strike, called by the Union of Base Syndicates (USB) and backed by other unions and student groups, affected several sectors, including logistics and education.

Protests were held in Rome, Milan, Turin, Bologna, Naples and Genoa, among other cities. Demonstrators carried banners opposing war and expressing support for Palestinians, while chanting slogans including “Government resign” and “We are all anti-fascists.”

In Milan, organizers estimated that 100,000 people joined a march from the city center toward the ring road, where demonstrators blocked traffic. The protest ended without incident, marking the first major demonstration in the city since unrest on Oct. 17 and 18.

Dockworkers at major Italian ports also joined an international day of action against arms shipments and the use of commercial ports for military purposes, blocking entrances to the ports of Genoa, La Spezia and Naples.

In Genoa, protesters blocked a road near the port with tires and set them on fire. Students later joined an afternoon march to the port in support of the dockworkers’ blockade.

The international action involved strikes and demonstrations at 113 ports across five continents in 21 countries. More than 25 dockworkers’ unions took part under the slogan “We don’t work for war,” calling for ports to serve civilian needs rather than military operations, according to 902, a news portal affiliated with the Communist Party of Greece.