Thousands of teachers, health care workers, trash collectors and others walked off their jobs across Italy on Friday to protest a decline in spending power, persistently low salaries and government policies they say have weakened public services.

The strike forced ITA airlines to cancel dozens of domestic and international flights, and hit schools, hospitals and local transport.

Italian trade unions went on strike on Friday against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's budget plans, with work stoppages primarily hitting the public sector. Schools, hospitals, post offices and motorway toll booths are all affected,

A nationwide strike in Italy on Friday caused the cancellation of flights, bus and metro services, the closure of some schools and reduced medical care, in a protest by two of the country's largest unions against the government's budget plans.