Italy hit by nationwide strike over cost of living, military spending and wars (2)
NAPLES, 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.”
Simultaneously, dockworkers at major Italian ports joined an international day of action against arms shipments and the use of commercial ports for military purposes. Demonstrators blocked entrances to the ports of Genoa, La Spezia and Naples.
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.