Transport hit as Italian workers strike over government budget

By Angelo Amante

ROME (Reuters) -Italians faced travel disruption on Friday as transport workers and other public sector employees from two of the country's largest unions went on strike in protest over the government's budget plans for 2024.

However, the impact of the national stoppage by transport workers was blunted after Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini used his powers to halve its duration to four hours, from 9 am to 1 pm (0800-1200 GMT). Air travel was not included in the strike plans.

Commuters in Rome, such as Clarissa Giovannini, who lives on the outskirts of the city, had an early start to avoid the strike. "I headed out much earlier than usual, luckily I caught the train," she said.

Tickets for trains leaving in the hours before the strike were mostly sold out, with fares of those left selling for above average prices.

The CGIL and UIL unions have called a general strike in the central regions of Italy, as well as a walkout by public sector employees across the country. Further regional protests have been planned for the next two weeks.

CGIL leader Maurizio Landini told daily la Repubblica this week that Salvini's decision to intervene was an unprecedented "attack on the right to strike."

Salvini, who is also transport minister, countered that his job was to ensure that Italians could still go about their business on Friday.

PROTESTS

A couple of thousand striking workers and the unions held a rally in Rome's central Piazza del Popolo to protest against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government.

Workers also protested in other cities across the country, including Florence, the port towns of Genoa and Livorno, and Milan.

Unions say the government is not doing enough to prevent workers and pensioners from being worse off at a time when prices are still rising.

They blame the government, which took office last October, for pandering to its grassroots supporters with an eye on elections to the European Parliament next June.

UIL leader Pierpaolo Bombardieri called for an increase in wages, better job security and fiscal reforms, "for a fairer society, with less inequality".

Italy's government last month approved a budget for next year with measures worth around 24 billion euros ($26 billion) in tax cuts and increased spending, despite market concerns over the country's strained public finances.

($1 = 0.9212 euros)

(Additional reporting by Giulia Segreti in Rome, Writing by Keith Weir; Editing by Sharon Singleton)