Transport workers were idling bus, subway and rail service for four-hour periods Friday throughout the country and airline employees also planned to strike from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Italian National Railway pledged that medium- and long-term service would not be affected.

Some autoworkers unions also were striking and public workers were staying home.

The CGIL labor federation says the ¤25 billion (US30 billion) in cuts hurt the weakest workers, and is pressing the government to do more to create growth. Parliament is debating the measures that seek to cut Italy's bloated bureaucracy and fight rampant tax evasion.