ANSA reported that workers and students marched across Italy during a strike called by the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) over living costs, war and rearmament, while a transport order deferred strike action.
Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport listed the nationwide USB general strike for Oct. 30 across public and private workplaces. An Oct. 27 order postponed the union’s action in air travel, rail, taxi services, local public transit, maritime transport, rail contracting and road traffic safety until another date. USB said it would not comply with the order.
USB said it called the stoppage in response to living costs and increased military spending. The union argued that workers and pensioners were bearing rising expenses while oil companies and banks benefited. It called for measures to curb prices and raise wages and pensions.
ANSA reported demonstrations in cities including Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Venice and Palermo. In an update at 9:40 a.m. EDT (13:40 UTC), the agency estimated roughly 30,000 marchers in Milan and said the procession had blocked the eastern ring road for 90 minutes. ANSA also reported police charges and water cannon in Turin.
The Independent reported armored vehicles near the Colosseum and police trucks near the Circus Maximus. Italy’s Ministry of Defense said its Villaggio Difesa at the Circus Maximus was scheduled to open to the public at 9 a.m. EDT (13:00 UTC) Friday and remain open through Nov. 4. The ministry said it canceled the opening ceremony after a fatal incident in Bosnia-Erzegovina.
La Rete della Conoscenza, Link - Coordinamento Universitario and Unione degli Studenti told ANSA they joined the mobilization to protest price pressures and policies backing military expansion.
