ianstone
09-29-2010, 08:16 AM
Workers Join Austerity Strikes Across Europe
Comments (7) (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Europe-Strikes-Continent-Braces-For-Protests-Against-Austerity-Measures/Article/201009415747572?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_A rticle_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15747572_Europe_Strikes%3A_Continent_B races_For_Protests_Against_Austerity_Measures#comm ents)
12:43pm UK, Wednesday September 29, 2010
Alex Rossi, Europe correspondent, and Katie Cassidy
Thousands of people across Europe have joined a series of protests against government austerity measures.
Flights from Britain to Spain are likely to be affected all day as strikes begin around Europe - including in Greece, Ireland, Italy and Poland.
Governments across the EU have been under increasing pressure to reign in public spending and many of them have introduced reforms to the labour market and pension systems.
Protests were taking place in capitals such as Madrid, where a general strike began late on Tuesday night.
Labour reforms were being pushed through by Spain's Prime Minister as part of plans to save Europe's fourth-largest economy from a bailout - like the one that saved Greece from bankruptcy.
The stop-work action was tipped to disrupt the country's transport system - with airlines likely to be badly affected.
Iberia said it expected to operate only 35% of its scheduled flights as some air traffic controllers and ground crews take part in the strike.
There has been a serious deterioration in our rights and if the working class does not react we are going to have a very bad time.
Spanish plumber Rafael Garcia
Ryanair said passengers on flights to and from Spain would only be permitted to carry hand luggage, because staff who handle checked baggage were not likely to come to work.
Buses were extremely scarce in Madrid this morning but reports said many were still able to get to work, while schools and hospitals were said to be largely unaffected.
However, 80% of Spain's high-speed train trips have been cancelled, all mid-distance were scrapped and only 25% of commuter trains were running.
Rafael Garcia, a 42-year-old Spanish plumber, said he would give up a day's pay to join the strikes.
"I hope that it is going to be a success because the future of labour relations will be determined by what happens," he said.
"There has been a serious deterioration in our rights and if the working class does not react we are going to have a very bad time."
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Sep/Week4/15747568.jpg Graffiti at a Madrid metro stop reads: 'No to the labour reform'
Minor scuffles between police and protesters broke out in Madrid, where hundreds of marchers waved flags, blocked streets and forced some shops to shut.
One of the largest demonstrations is expected to take place in Brussels, where the walkout is tipped to be the biggest there since 2001.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) (http://www.etuc.org/) estimates as many as a 100,000 workers from more than 30 countries will march towards the European Commission to shout: "No to austerity".
The organisation's general secretary, John Monks, said his members were fed up with paying for a financial crisis that was caused by the banking sector.
"We will demonstrate to voice our concern over the economic and social context, which will be compounded by austerity measures," he said.
Unions said 23 million jobs have been lost across Europe since the global downturn began.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Sep/Week4/15747676.jpg Police outside the Irish Parliament, where a cement truck rammed the front gates
In Ireland, a cement truck plastered with anti-bank slogans was driven right up to the gates of Parliament.
The ornate wrought-iron entrance was not badly damaged but police police arrested the 41-year-old driver.
Public hostility is running high amid surging debts, a series of emergency budgets and a soaring bill for propping up the nation's debt-crippled banks.
Every protest will be watched carefully by Europe's governments to see just how many people the unions can muster.
A smaller than expected turnout would suggest unions do not have the support or the backing to call more strikes.
On the other hand, big numbers could indicate that Europe is facing a winter of discontent.
Comments (7) (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Europe-Strikes-Continent-Braces-For-Protests-Against-Austerity-Measures/Article/201009415747572?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_A rticle_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15747572_Europe_Strikes%3A_Continent_B races_For_Protests_Against_Austerity_Measures#comm ents)
12:43pm UK, Wednesday September 29, 2010
Alex Rossi, Europe correspondent, and Katie Cassidy
Thousands of people across Europe have joined a series of protests against government austerity measures.
Flights from Britain to Spain are likely to be affected all day as strikes begin around Europe - including in Greece, Ireland, Italy and Poland.
Governments across the EU have been under increasing pressure to reign in public spending and many of them have introduced reforms to the labour market and pension systems.
Protests were taking place in capitals such as Madrid, where a general strike began late on Tuesday night.
Labour reforms were being pushed through by Spain's Prime Minister as part of plans to save Europe's fourth-largest economy from a bailout - like the one that saved Greece from bankruptcy.
The stop-work action was tipped to disrupt the country's transport system - with airlines likely to be badly affected.
Iberia said it expected to operate only 35% of its scheduled flights as some air traffic controllers and ground crews take part in the strike.
There has been a serious deterioration in our rights and if the working class does not react we are going to have a very bad time.
Spanish plumber Rafael Garcia
Ryanair said passengers on flights to and from Spain would only be permitted to carry hand luggage, because staff who handle checked baggage were not likely to come to work.
Buses were extremely scarce in Madrid this morning but reports said many were still able to get to work, while schools and hospitals were said to be largely unaffected.
However, 80% of Spain's high-speed train trips have been cancelled, all mid-distance were scrapped and only 25% of commuter trains were running.
Rafael Garcia, a 42-year-old Spanish plumber, said he would give up a day's pay to join the strikes.
"I hope that it is going to be a success because the future of labour relations will be determined by what happens," he said.
"There has been a serious deterioration in our rights and if the working class does not react we are going to have a very bad time."
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Sep/Week4/15747568.jpg Graffiti at a Madrid metro stop reads: 'No to the labour reform'
Minor scuffles between police and protesters broke out in Madrid, where hundreds of marchers waved flags, blocked streets and forced some shops to shut.
One of the largest demonstrations is expected to take place in Brussels, where the walkout is tipped to be the biggest there since 2001.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) (http://www.etuc.org/) estimates as many as a 100,000 workers from more than 30 countries will march towards the European Commission to shout: "No to austerity".
The organisation's general secretary, John Monks, said his members were fed up with paying for a financial crisis that was caused by the banking sector.
"We will demonstrate to voice our concern over the economic and social context, which will be compounded by austerity measures," he said.
Unions said 23 million jobs have been lost across Europe since the global downturn began.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Sep/Week4/15747676.jpg Police outside the Irish Parliament, where a cement truck rammed the front gates
In Ireland, a cement truck plastered with anti-bank slogans was driven right up to the gates of Parliament.
The ornate wrought-iron entrance was not badly damaged but police police arrested the 41-year-old driver.
Public hostility is running high amid surging debts, a series of emergency budgets and a soaring bill for propping up the nation's debt-crippled banks.
Every protest will be watched carefully by Europe's governments to see just how many people the unions can muster.
A smaller than expected turnout would suggest unions do not have the support or the backing to call more strikes.
On the other hand, big numbers could indicate that Europe is facing a winter of discontent.