- Title: PORTUGAL: Portugal braces for general strike
- Date: 13th November 2012
- Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (FILE - SEPTEMBER 15, 2012) (REUTERS) PROTESTORS MARCHING ON STREET SPECIAL POLICE FORCE IN FRONT OF IMF LISBON, PORTUGAL (FILE - OCTOBER 31, 2012) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS GATHERED IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT AND POLICE PROTESTERS THROWING FLARES, BOTTLES AND ROCKS AT POLICE PROTESTERS THROWING BOTTLES AND ROCKS
- Embargoed: 28th November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Portugal
- Country: Portugal
- Topics: Economy,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA70D0C8QXS039U9RYSIMT4NK1U
- Story Text: Portugal's labour unions call for a general strike on November 14 as people's anger deepens over austerity measures and unemployment.
Portugal's labour union CGTP has called for a general strike on Wednesday (November 14), the second in the last 8 months, against declining living conditions and the austerity measures imposed since early 2011.
The strike coincides with Italy, Greece and Spain's general strikes, when workers angered by austerity will protest against the Troika and the austerity measures that they say compromise their livelihoods.
Experiencing rising social unrest and with the unemployment in Portugal at 10.12%, thirty-eight-year-old unemployed web designer Pedro Barroso says he is in despair.
"No one is finding work at the moment and can't find alternatives. Going back to study is out the question. I really think that people are getting desperate because there is no way out of this situation," said Barroso, who studied web design for five years a decade ago.
After two years of unemployment, Barroso is now desperately looking for a job in any industry.
"You see people participating in demonstrations more and more. The social awareness is noticeable. This year we had more demonstrations than in the last 20 years! That's the only positive thing I can see in these years," he said.
Barroso sends countless job applications to potential employers every day. But he says he is struggling to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Political sociology Professor Jos�Viegas, from the Institute of Business and Labour Sciences (ISCTE) says as things become more difficult, social unrest is likely to increase.
"With a bad future where the unemployment will rise and the security at work will decline, the potential for growing public protests is obvious," Viegas said.
Since the 2013 budget was announced, Lisbon has experienced demonstrations on a weekly basis.
Organized by the labour union or young people's groups such as "To hell with Troika", a bigger involvement in political and social affairs from the Portuguese people is becoming more visible despite being relatively peaceful.
A demonstration in Lisbon on September 15th saw a gathering of thousands of people angry with austerity measures.
Portugal's parliament approved the draft 2013 budget on October 31. It raises tax rates on income, property and financial transactions, bringing about the biggest tax hikes in the country's modern democratic history.
The Government says the measures are needed to keep a 78-billion euro EU/IMF bailout afloat.
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