ITALY ERUPTS IN ANGER: 'Money for People, Not Weapons' as Country Braces for Massive Protests

Italy is heading for a nationwide showdown as workers prepare to flood the streets, furious over soaring living costs and the government's military spending priorities. From Rome to major cities across the country, public and private sector employees are being called out on strike this Friday. Students are also preparing to return to the streets, turning economic frustration into a broader protest against the government's policies. As household bills climb and wages struggle to keep pace, unions are demanding a bigger share of public resources for ordinary people. Their message is blunt. Workers cannot keep paying the price of inflation. They want wage increases linked to rising prices, cheaper essential goods, lower rents and reduced VAT on basic necessities. USB is even demanding the revival of Italy's Scala Mobile, a mechanism that automatically adjusted wages to inflation. But the anger goes beyond empty wallets. Unions are taking aim at military spending, accusing the government of pouring too many resources into defense while healthcare, education and public services remain underfunded. The COBAS unions, alongside ADISRC, CGIL and CISL, have also called a general strike across public and private sectors, excluding transport. The fallout could hit commuters hard. Rail services face disruption from Thursday night until Friday evening, while air transport workers are expected to strike throughout Friday. Taxi services and motorway staff are also set to join the action, with local transport disruption varying across cities. And this fight is crossing borders. Dock workers across more than 100 ports in 17 countries and four continents are mobilizing against arms trafficking, rearmament and the militarization of ports. In Italy, seven ports, including Genoa, Trieste and Livorno, are expected to be affected. What began as a fight over household expenses is now becoming a wider challenge to Europe's rearmament drive.