The CGIL union estimated that approximately 61% of all public and private sector workers participated in the stoppage, with more than 500,000 people joining rallies in Italy's major cities.
The CGIL boasts around 5 million members, half of whom are retirees.
Official police estimates for crowd sizes were not immediately available.
"The majority of the workers who keep this country going don't agree with and don't accept this government's budget," CGIL leader Maurizio Landini told a rally in Florence. "Today shows more clearly than ever that we need a change."
The CGIL, alongside other labor unions, has criticized the budget's proposed increases in defense spending. It is calling for greater investment in healthcare and education, alongside measures to raise salaries and pensions.
The government defends the budget, stating it strengthens Italy's public finances while reducing taxes for middle-income earners. The financial plan has been positively received by financial markets and credit rating agencies.
Italy has witnessed a series of national strikes and demonstrations in recent months, targeting both the government's economic policies and its support for Israel. While Meloni's right-wing Brothers of Italy party continues to lead comfortably in opinion polls and her coalition remains stable, some recent surveys indicate a dip in the government's popularity and a modest rise for the center-left opposition. The next general election is scheduled for 2027.
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Source: REUTERS