Strikes, protests hit much of European Union

[No Elephants]

There is a north south divide. The northern nations, which are wealthier, like Denmakr and the Netherlands, tended not to be interested in striking.

Nov 14, 4:28 AM EST

Strikes, protests hit much of European Union

By RAF CASERT
Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) -- 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 on Wednesday.

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 the traditionally more stable ones, like France and Britain.

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 on Wednesday.

"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.

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Spain's General Workers' Union said the nationwide stoppage, the second this year, was being observed by nearly all workers in the automobile, energy, shipbuilding and constructions industries. The government downplayed the impact.

Belgium straddles that divide but a 24-hour rail stoppage and scattered strikes through the south of the nation disrupted daily life. Both the Thalys and Eurostar high-speed rail services that connect Brussels with London and Paris were severely disrupted.

<snip>


Ciaran Giles from Madrid, Geir Moulson from Berlin, Jan Olsen from Copenhagen, Mike Corder from The Hague, Barry Hatton from Lisbon and Elena Becatoros from Athens contributed to this article.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_EUROPE_AUSTERITY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-11-14-04-28-22

European workers in different countries can unite, but Americans within the same plant can't seem to unite.


Unsurprisingly, governments oppose the strikes, saying they cost billions of dollars and hurt the economy; and this is not the time to do that.

Apparently, though, they would rather sustain the billions that strikes cost than accede to any demands of the strikers?

[Enthusiast]

1. Americans can't unite

because they have been subjected to anti-labor propaganda since forever. Our media, on the other hand, is united, united in creating a narrative that the Powers That Be want us to hear. I do believe misinformation is on the increase in Europe but not nearly fast enough to counter the united opposition.

[No Elephants]

2. Not only anti-labor, but all kinds of divide and conquer groupings.

but, it'smore than that. It's a complacency (or apathy) and laziness and cluelessness.

I think TV may have eaten out brains.

[formercia]

3. Tax the Rich

That's where all the Money went.