Portuguese, Spanish unions hold first ever joint strike
15 Nov 2012 6:38 AM IST
In scenes reminiscent of the industrial unrest seen in Europe in the early parts of the twentieth century, millions of workers in six EU countries united on Wednesday to protest against what they termed ‘austerity for the common man and huge bailouts for the robber barons’.
For the first time ever, the workers of Spain and Portugal held coordinated strikes across the two countries which brought industry and transport to a complete standstill.
The working class of the two countries were joined by the labour unions of Greece, Italy, France and Belgium who, too, organised strikes and demonstrations as an expression of solidarity with their colleaugues in Spain and Portugal.
According to news agency, TV and Internet reports, police and protesters clashed in Spain and Italy. Hundreds of flights were cancelled, car factories and ports were at a standstill and trains barely ran in Spain and Portugal where unions held a joint general strike for the first time in history. In Spain 81 people were arrested after scuffles at picket lines and damage to storefronts. Riot police in Madrid fired rubber bullets at protesters.
In central Rome, students stoned police in a protest over money-saving plans for the school system. A few dozen protesters, hurling bottles and large firecrackers, clashed with riot police who fired tear gas and dragged away at least one bleeding protester into a police van. International rail services were disrupted in Belgium, Greece, Italy and France as workers demonstrated in what they termed ‘European Day of Action and Solidarity’.
It was the biggest Europe-wide challenge by organised labour to the austerity policies that have aggravated recessions and mass unemployment in nearly three years since the start of the euro zone debt crisis. But it seemed unlikely to force hard-pressed governments to change their cost-cutting strategies.
In Portugal and Greece - both rescued with European funds and under strict austerity programs, the economic downturn sharpened in the third quarter, data showed on Wednesday.
For the first time ever, the workers of Spain and Portugal held coordinated strikes across the two countries which brought industry and transport to a complete standstill.
The working class of the two countries were joined by the labour unions of Greece, Italy, France and Belgium who, too, organised strikes and demonstrations as an expression of solidarity with their colleaugues in Spain and Portugal.
According to news agency, TV and Internet reports, police and protesters clashed in Spain and Italy. Hundreds of flights were cancelled, car factories and ports were at a standstill and trains barely ran in Spain and Portugal where unions held a joint general strike for the first time in history. In Spain 81 people were arrested after scuffles at picket lines and damage to storefronts. Riot police in Madrid fired rubber bullets at protesters.
In central Rome, students stoned police in a protest over money-saving plans for the school system. A few dozen protesters, hurling bottles and large firecrackers, clashed with riot police who fired tear gas and dragged away at least one bleeding protester into a police van. International rail services were disrupted in Belgium, Greece, Italy and France as workers demonstrated in what they termed ‘European Day of Action and Solidarity’.
It was the biggest Europe-wide challenge by organised labour to the austerity policies that have aggravated recessions and mass unemployment in nearly three years since the start of the euro zone debt crisis. But it seemed unlikely to force hard-pressed governments to change their cost-cutting strategies.
In Portugal and Greece - both rescued with European funds and under strict austerity programs, the economic downturn sharpened in the third quarter, data showed on Wednesday.
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