ROME -- Business and travel in Italy ground to a near-halt Tuesday as millions of workers participated in a one-day government strike, the BBC said.
Trade union leaders called for the walkout in response to $8 billion in public sector spending cuts in next year's budget, pushed through last week by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
The European Commission has warned Italy to reduce its public debt, which is the third largest in the world.
National airline Alitalia has canceled more than 130 flights, and trains stopped running and were not due to resume until the afternoon. Post offices and government buildings closed all day.
The largest demonstrations were in Turin, Milan and Venice, where leaders from the country's three main unions addressed the crowds.
The protest marks the fourth general strike in Italy since Berlusconi took power in 2001.
