Italy braces for nationwide strikes and protests on 30 October

The crux: The Italy general strike is set for Friday 30 October. Italian unions have called strikes across the public and private sectors, against the rising cost of living and military spending. Rail, air and local transport are expected to be disrupted, a major demonstration is planned in Rome, and students are expected back on the streets in the main cities after two weekends of protests.

Photo: Stefano Bolognini, Attribution licence, via Wikimedia Commons (general strike in Milan, 6 September 2011)

What’s planned

The grassroots union Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) has called on public and private sector workers to strike, mobilise and protest, including at a large demonstration in Rome. The Cobas unions, together with Adl, Clap and Sial, have also called a general strike across the public and private sectors, excluding transport. Unions are demanding wage increases in line with inflation.

Travel disruption

Rail services are expected to be disrupted from 21:00 on Thursday 29 October until 20:59 on Friday. The air transport strike is expected to last all of Friday. Local public transport will vary from city to city, taxis are expected to be affected throughout Friday, and motorway staff begin their strike on Thursday evening.

Ports join in

On the same day, dock workers are mobilising against arms shipments, rearmament and the militarisation of ports. Organisers, including USB in Italy and the CGT in France, say workers from more than 100 ports in 17 countries are taking part. In Italy the ports of Genoa, Livorno, Trieste, Civitavecchia, Ancona, Ravenna and Gioia Tauro are expected to be affected.

Why it matters

Italy’s student-led protests began on 16 October over school conditions and spread into wider anger about living costs, with inflation at 4.2% in September. Riots and looting in Milan, Turin and Bologna on 17 October led the government to approve a new security decree and deploy soldiers in Milan. On 24 October, 9 people were arrested and 371 briefly detained across eight cities. Friday’s strike will be a new test for public order.

Sources

• Euronews, 29 Oct 2026 — https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/29/major-strikes-planned-across-italy-on-friday-against-cost-of-living-and-military-spending
• AP News — https://apnews.com/article/europe-riots-protest-france-italy-spain-albania-portugal-housing-costs-210ff22c6746b9ec66438ac80740bc0e
• Civic Space Watch — https://civicspacewatch.eu/alert/concerns-over-policing-and-freedom-of-assembly-during-europes-protest-wave/
• Wikipedia, 2026 European unrest (24 Oct detention figures, Italian police) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_European_unrest