There is tension between Premier Mario Draghi's government and the nation's biggest trade unions after a meeting on Tuesday to discuss changes to Italy's pension system ended without an agreement.
Draghi has said that, after three years, the 'quota 100' pension system allowing for early retirement if the sum of age and years worked reached 100 would be scrapped on the grounds that it is too costly for the State.
There is also talk of the 'quota 100' system of being replaced by one which would require this sum of age and years of contributions to equal at least 102 or 104, as a temporary stepping stone to a system in which everyone would have to reach the full retirement age of over 67 to start claiming a State pension.
The unions described the government's proposals as "insufficient" and "not a reform worthy of the name".
"If the government confirms this framework on Thursday, we will evaluate unilateral initiatives and mobilization," said Maurizio Landini, the head of the left-wing CGIL, Italy's biggest trade-union confederation.
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