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| Europe |
| Europe hit by wave of industrial action |
| 2010-02-24 |
| Nationwide strikes have hit various countries across Europe as unhappy workers walk-out in fear of job losses and further pay-cuts. Unhappy workers across Europe have staged walk-outs amid fear of job losses and further pay-cuts, a threatening blow to Europe's pendulum recovery from recession. In France, air traffic controllers went on strike to protest the merger of five European air traffic control networks. This is while employees at six Total oil refineries have been on strike for seven days prompting fuel shortages. They are worried about the closure of a Total oil refinery where 800 people are employed. In Germany the government has managed to bring pilots from its flagship carrier, Lufthansa, back to the negotiation table on the first day of a four-day strike that threatens to cripple air transport in the country. Elsewhere in Europe, Spain, Britain and Greece are expecting crippling strikes in the days to come. Spain is expecting trade unionists to take to the streets over changes to the retirement age and widespread unemployment. British Airways cabin crew voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike over pay and conditions, but their union said it could not announce any strike dates as it hoped to continue negotiations with BA. Meanwhile in Greece a nationwide strike is expected to paralyze the country on Wednesday. More than 3,000,000 workers plan to strike after public sector wages were frozen and the government cut salaries by 10% to battle its budget deficit amid pressure from the European Union. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 If it wasn't for our own poor prospects at the hands of the current regime I would be indulging a fine bout of schadenfreude right about now. The countries are all going broke and the, mostly, public employees want to strike for more. Yep, EU is on the way to 2nd world status soon at this rate. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2010-02-24 09:27 |