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EU workers stage series of strikes in protest over austerity measures
Source: Agencies |
November 15, 2012, Thursday
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WITH rampant unemployment spreading misery in southern Europe and companies shutting factories across the continent, workers around the European Union sought to unite in a string of strikes and demonstrations yesterday.
Most European governments have in recent years had to cut spending, pensions and benefits and raise taxes aggressively to bring public debt under control. That includes not only the most financially troubled governments, like Greece, but also traditionally more stable ones, such as France and the United Kingdom.
The result has been a dramatic drop in living standards in many nations that leaders have accepted as collateral for policies they claim are unavoidable. With no end in sight to the economic misery, workers were trying to take a stand yesterday.
"Of course it's a political strike, against the policies of a suicidal and anti-social government," said Igancio Fernandez Toxo, a CCOO Spanish union leader, as the general strike spread through Spain where a 25 percent unemployment rate has put the country at the heart of the EU social unrest.
A Spanish Interior Ministry official says 32 people have been arrested and 15 people treated for minor injuries in disturbances.
Spain's General Workers' Union said the nationwide stoppage, the second this year, was being observed by nearly all workers in the auto, energy, shipbuilding and construction industries. The government downplayed the impact.
A north-south divide emerged in the participation to the strikes, with unions in wealthier states like the Netherlands and the Nordic nations, where the crisis has not hit that hard, not in the mood for closing down their countries.
Belgium straddles that divide but a 24-hour rail stoppage and scattered strikes in the nation disrupted daily life. Both the Thalys and Eurostar high-speed rail services that connect Brussels with London and Paris were disrupted.
"Austerity means cuts in the public services and public companies and also cuts in the buying power for the working class," said Belgian socialist union leader Filip Peers. "Austerity means recession and it deepens the crisis."
The chief of the EU employers' federation took a different view.
"If you start striking at national level and in companies you only will harm the economy," said Eurobussiness leader Philippe de Buck. "And it is not the right thing to do today."
"It costs billions" of euros, he said, adding Europe's reputation as a hotbed of trade union action would not attract global investors.
Most European governments have in recent years had to cut spending, pensions and benefits and raise taxes aggressively to bring public debt under control. That includes not only the most financially troubled governments, like Greece, but also traditionally more stable ones, such as France and the United Kingdom.
The result has been a dramatic drop in living standards in many nations that leaders have accepted as collateral for policies they claim are unavoidable. With no end in sight to the economic misery, workers were trying to take a stand yesterday.
"Of course it's a political strike, against the policies of a suicidal and anti-social government," said Igancio Fernandez Toxo, a CCOO Spanish union leader, as the general strike spread through Spain where a 25 percent unemployment rate has put the country at the heart of the EU social unrest.
A Spanish Interior Ministry official says 32 people have been arrested and 15 people treated for minor injuries in disturbances.
Spain's General Workers' Union said the nationwide stoppage, the second this year, was being observed by nearly all workers in the auto, energy, shipbuilding and construction industries. The government downplayed the impact.
A north-south divide emerged in the participation to the strikes, with unions in wealthier states like the Netherlands and the Nordic nations, where the crisis has not hit that hard, not in the mood for closing down their countries.
Belgium straddles that divide but a 24-hour rail stoppage and scattered strikes in the nation disrupted daily life. Both the Thalys and Eurostar high-speed rail services that connect Brussels with London and Paris were disrupted.
"Austerity means cuts in the public services and public companies and also cuts in the buying power for the working class," said Belgian socialist union leader Filip Peers. "Austerity means recession and it deepens the crisis."
The chief of the EU employers' federation took a different view.
"If you start striking at national level and in companies you only will harm the economy," said Eurobussiness leader Philippe de Buck. "And it is not the right thing to do today."
"It costs billions" of euros, he said, adding Europe's reputation as a hotbed of trade union action would not attract global investors.
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