General strike of 30 October 2026 in Turin

The general strike of 30 October 2026 in Turin was a mobilisation of workers and students called by the Unione Sindacale di Base (Usb), joined by other unions including Usi-Cit and Cobas. The march set off from piazza Palazzo di Città, in front of the City Hall, and reached Barriera di Milano behind the slogan «Abbassate le armi, alzate i salari» ("Lower the weapons, raise wages"). The mobilisation was part of a day of general strikes called across Italy, with 58 squares involved according to the organisers ^[2].

Route and organisation

The workers' gathering point was set for 9.30am in piazza Palazzo di Città. A student contingent instead set off at 9am from Palazzo Nuovo, home to the humanities faculties of the University of Turin, before joining the main march ^[1]. As a demonstrative action, students from the Cambiare Rotta collective blocked the entrance to Palazzo Nuovo for about an hour, from 8 to 9am ^[2]. The march proceeded along via Milano, piazza della Repubblica and corso Giulio Cesare to piazza Derna, in the Barriera di Milano district, where it ended ^[1]. Flags appeared in the square belonging to Usb and Cobas, the Communist Party, Potere al Popolo, the Cambiare Rotta and Osa collectives, as well as flags of Cuba and Palestine ^[2].

Demands

In the statement issued by Usb, the mobilisation was described as «a mobilisation against the war economy imposed by the Meloni Government, against the cost-of-living crisis that is strangling the population, against the repression of young people and workers protesting for better living conditions» ^[1]. The demands concerned lower prices, energy tariffs, rents and mortgages, higher wages and an end to the war ^[1]. Other issues raised by demonstrators included the right to public healthcare, the right to education, cuts to education funding, and opposition to the European rearmament plan ^[1][2]. A banner hung on the truck leading the march recalled the international protest by dockworkers against the transport of weapons, referring to an international day of action that involved 113 ports on 5 continents ^[2].

Security measures

On the eve of the strike, the Provincial Committee for Public Order and Security (Cosp), chaired by prefect Donato Cafagna, met and confirmed reinforced surveillance measures for Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October to protect shopkeepers ^[1]. Prefectural orders were under consideration banning the possession of potentially dangerous or blunt objects, the wearing of clothing to disguise one's face, explosive materials, and the take-away sale of drinks in glass or can containers along the march route ^[1]. During the demonstration, a ban on covering one's face along the route — which took place outside the historic centre — was reported ^[2].

At the end of the day, the Turin police headquarters (Questura) reported 256 people identified and 12 reported to the judicial authorities for the clashes that occurred during the marches. ^[3]

Timeline

• 30 October 2026 — At the end of the day of the general strike of 30 October in Turin, the Questura reports 256 people identified and 12 reported to the judicial authorities for the clashes that occurred during the marches. Quotidiano Piemontese Il Torinese

Sources

1. Sciopero generale del 30 ottobre, studenti e lavoratori in piazza: "Abbassate le armi, alzate i salari", il percorso del corteo a Torino — TorinoToday, 28 October 2026
2. “Abbassate le armi, alzate i salari”: a Torino nuovo corteo contro la guerra e il caro vita — La Stampa, 30 October 2026
3. Il giorno dopo lo sciopero: 12 denunciati, 256 identificati a Torino — Il Torinese, 31 October 2026