- Title: PORTUGAL: Portugal workers begin general strike
- Date: 13th November 2012
- Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (NOVEMBER 13, 2012) (REUTERS) PICKETERS IN FRONT OF RUBBISH DEPOT EXIT PICKETERS WITH BANNER READING "AGAINST THE POLITICS OF THE RIGHT THE WORKERS OF LISBON CITY COUNCIL STRIKE" PICKETERS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) RUI RIBEIRO, TECHNICAL WORKER AT LISBON CITY COUNCIL, SAYING: "These measures that are being applied when there is a recession don't allow the
- Embargoed: 28th November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Portugal
- Country: Portugal
- Topics: Economy,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA4VYPHYYMYL69S28J657K0Z989
- Story Text: Portuguese rubbish collectors stage picket at beginning of the second general strike of the year.
Portuguese workers began to walk-out on the eve of the November 14 general strike on Tuesday (November 13) in protest against policies that are cutting social benefits, reducing wages and increasing taxes as part of an austerity programme designed to slash Portugal's public deficit after the country asked for a 78 billion euro bailout last year.
Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho blames Lisbon's debt crisis on overspendng by previous governments and says its only option now is to keep to budget goals set under last year's bailout deal.
Workers on strike on Tuesday however say the policies are causing people to bear the brunt of an economic crisis they are not responsible for.
"These measures that are being applied when there is a recession don't allow the country to develop, to move forward. There are cuts and more cuts and the ones who have to pay are always the same ones. We didn't create this crisis, we the workers didn't create the crisis, on the contrary we work and we are always penalised," Rui Ribeiro a technical worker at Lisbon's City Council said as he joined a picket line at one of Lisbon's rubbish collection depot's where only two workers turned up for the night shift.
Portugal is going through its biggest slump since the 1970s and social unrest is growing as people increasingly take to the streets to protest against tax rises, spending cuts and lack of jobs.
The November 14th general strike is the second general strike staged this year.
The strike coincides with general strikes in Spain and Greece where deep asuterity measures are also being implemented.
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