Spain Portugal Strike Against Austerity
October 24, 2012
By Harry Kelber, European Report
Spanish trade unionists have called a general strike against Madrid’s austerity program. The protests will coincide with a similar strike in neighboring Portugal to make it the first concerted Iberian labor action. The strike has good chances of spreading to nearby European countries, especially in the south.
Many believe that all EU countries that have applied austerity measures have become worse for it. The strike in November was aimed at forcing governments to modify their economic and budgetary policies.
In the first response to the strike announcement, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy acknowledged that people were concerned about the government’s harsh measures that are designed to help Spain wriggle out of economic recession, he said.
Unions Protest In London
Nurses, firefighters, teachers and prison officers joined an estimated 100,000 protesters on Saturday, Oct. 20 in huge demonstrations against the British government, loudly cheering calls for a 24-hour general strike.
Union officials and politicians bitterly attacked the government coalition’s spending cuts, accusing ministers of being more interested in helping millionaires than ordinary citizens.
The marchers peacefully passed through London, Glascow and Belfast. Many disabled activists staged sit-ins and cut off traffic.
