Italy: great turnout for the general strike the CGIL launched against the government’s economic maneuver

“We’re not an uncomplaining country” declared Susanna Camusso, Deputy Secretary-General of the CGIL, during the interminable demonstration in Bologna (100,000+ participants according to the CGIL), on the occasion of the June 25 general strike, launched by the biggest union confederation in Italy against the government’s economic maneuver (see our dispatch No. 100467). In the civil service, there was a 24-hour work stoppage, 8 hours in metalworking and Lombardy, and four hours in other private sectors. “Refusing to pay for the crisis,” hundreds of thousands of workers – one million according to the CGIL – mobilized across the country, except in piedmont, Tuscany and Liguria where the general strike will be held on July 2nd. Susanna Camusso (who was filling in for the leader, Gugliemo Epifani, in Canada for the second ITUC Congress) declared, “With such a turnout, we can change the country,” pointing out that the CGIL isn’t as isolated as the government claims. However, the Civil Service Minister, in his sector, there was a 4% turnout. Because of this “low turnout rate,” the Minister wished that this mobilization were “the last 20th century strike in Italy, with a problematic ideological approach.”
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

here the general strike will be held on July 2nd. Susanna Camusso (who was filling in for the leader, Gugliemo Epifani, in Canada for the second ITUC Congress) declared, “With such a turnout, we can change the country,” pointing out that the CGIL isn’t as isolated as the government claims. However, the Civil Service Minister, in his sector, there was a 4% turnout. Because of this “low turnout rate,” the Minister wished that this mobilization were “the last 20th century strike in Italy, with a p

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
Netherlands: Uber fined over 800 million euros for automated algorithmic decisions
The news. In a decision dated 17 August, the Dutch Data Protection Authority fined ride-hailing company Uber €825 million for automating decisions regarding driver account deactivations. The...
Portugal: open consultation on the transposition of the Pay Transparency Directive
The news. On 5 August 2026, the Portuguese government published a document proposing a draft text to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive as the basis for a public consultation open until...
EU: the Commission will set up an Expert Group on the impact of AI in the world of work
The news. On 22 July 2026, the European Commission published a progress report on the EU-27’s achievements regarding the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights, reinforced by the...
Belgium: toward an additional five days of leave following the birth of a child
The news. On 18 July, the Belgian federal government approved a draft bill introducing an additional five days of leave following the birth of a child. This entitlement would be added to existing...