Italy is bracing for a general strike on Friday proclaimed by the CGIL and UIl unions against the 2025 budget.

    The strike remains 8 hours or for the entire work shift for all public and private sectors, with the exception of transport where, following a back-to-work order, it has been reduced to 4 hours in particular for local public transport, air transport and maritime transport.

   CGIL and UIL on Thursday morning appealed to Lazio's regional administrative tribunal TAR against the back-to-work order in the transport sector issued by Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini but the appeal was rejected, the transport ministry said later in the day.
    Overall, rail transport had been excluded from the industrial action by the two unions.
    Based on the ordinance signed by Salvini, the stop for planes, including air traffic controllers, will be from 10 am to 2 pm.
    For buses, metro and trams as well as for ships and ferries it will be from 9 am to 1 pm, always respecting the guarantee bands.
    Firefighters will also strike from 10 am to 2 pm.
    Taxi services will be at risk for the whole day.
    Unions are asking for salary hikes, more funding for healthcare, education, public services and industrial policies.
    A total of 43 demonstrations have been organized across Italy on Friday with the secretary general of CGIL, Maurizio Landini, closing the protest in Bologna and the leader of UIL, Pierpaolo Bombardieri, wrapping up the demonstration in Naples.
   

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