ROME - There are 46 workers' protests expected across Italy on Friday 29, which are opposing the government's budget plan, reports Il Fatto.

 The demonstrations were organised by the workers' unions CGIL and UIL, and are coinciding with similar ones organised by COBAS, SGB and CUB. 

 The large-scale protests will see many of Italy's sectors temporarily grind to a halt. Ita Airways has cancelled 109 flights from 10:00 to 14:00. Bus, metro, ferry and naval services will be stopped from 09:00 to 13:00. 

 The duration of the latter strike is a result of Matteo Salvini's negotiations, who managed to persuade unions to reduce the length of their walk-out from eight hours to four. 

 Healthcare, education and waste collection services are also expected to protest. 

 Workers are objecting to the national budget approved last month, which will see a tightening on public spending in order to bring Italy's finances closer to EU regulations. 

 The leader of the Democratic Party Elly Schlein expressed her party's support for the cause of Italy's protestors.

 'This general strike is in reaction to the workers' difficulties that the government continues to ignore. It is a strike against a budget plan that cuts public healthcare and funding for education, that fails to deliver on promised pension increases, that lacks future-focused investments, and neglects the renewal of contracts for five million workers still waiting'. (Source: Il Fatto)

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