Hundreds of thousands of Italian workers staged an eight-hour strike on Friday to protest the government's 2025 budget, which raises living costs and cuts wages.

Organized by major unions, CGIL and UIL, the strike spanned multiple sectors, with local transport, ferry and air workers limiting stoppages to four hours following a government injunction. Despite this, participation was high, affecting 70 percent of workers in impacted industries. ITA Airways canceled 109 flights, including 18 international routes.