Spain in Pain after General Strike against Austerity

Spain finds itself amidst first general strike in the country in eight years. The strike which is going to last 24-hour started today with the Spanish workers disrupting the broadcasts and transport throughout the nation as the demonstrators plan to march through Brussels in the protest against expenditure cuts by European governments.

Unions across the country are protesting against the austerity measures adopted by the government to tame budget deficits across Europe. Apart from Spain, various other countries in the continent are planning protests, as stated by the European Trade Union Confederation.

Hordes of protesters intend to march through the city of Brussels ahead of the all important meeting between the union members and European Commission President Jose Barroso.

Two of the biggest Spanish unions claimed that more than 70 percent of the workers will join the strike, including over 80 percent in the air industry and nearly 60 percent in the energy sector.

The Spanish unions are protesting against the Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez for bringing about the deepest budget reductions in nearly 30 years and weakening job security in order to cut high unemployment rate. The prime minister was forced to narrow down the budget shortfall after the demands from investors and other European partners.

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