(ANSA) - Rome, December 16 - Traffic was snarled across Italy Monday as trade unions called a day of strikes in numerous cities including Rome, Milan, Turin and Naples. Most public transit including subway and bus services was halted as unions protested cuts to public spending. An estimated 200 people rallied in front of Turin's city hall Monday morning against the sale of 49% of Turin's local transportation company Gruppo Torinese Trasporti (GTT) by the city government. Students in Milan joined in with their own protests against education spending cuts, and scuffles were reported outside the Lombardy regional offices. Protesters threw red dye was thrown into a public fountain in Milan's Piazza Cairoli near the regional government's offices to symbolize "the bleeding of public schools," according to a banner hoisted by protesters.