GERMANY: Protesters in Germany express sympathy for strikers in other EU countries

Record ID: 341032

  • Title: GERMANY: Protesters in Germany express sympathy for strikers in other EU countries
  • Date: 14th November 2012
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 14, 2012) (REUTERS) BRANDENBURG GATE WITH PAN TO DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING LARGE BANNER READING IN GERMAN: 'FOR WORK AND SOLIDARITY' CLOSE OF DEMONSTRATORS WITH SIGN READING IN GERMAN: 'GERMANY NEEDS SOLIDARITY' MORE OF DEMONSTRATORS CLOSE OF BANNER VARIOUS OF MICHAEL PRUETZ, GREECE SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE, ADDRESSING DEMONSTRATORS FROM STAGE PRUETZ LEAV
  • Embargoed: 29th November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Crime,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACUNZEN6H9ZA0VAWB16J4QKK7C
  • Story Text: Protesters in Germany show solidarity with the anti-austerity strikers across southern Europe.


    People in Germany gathered in front of the Berlin Brandenburg Gate to show their solidarity for strikers in other EU countries on Wednesday (November 14).
    Police and protesters clashed in Spain and Italy on Wednesday as millions of workers went on strike across Europe to protest against spending cuts they say have made the economic crisis worse.
    Hundreds of flights were cancelled, car factories and ports were at a standstill and trains barely ran in Spain and Portugal where unions held their first coordinated general strike.
    In Spain, 81 people were arrested after scuffles at picket lines and damage to storefronts. Riot police in Madrid fired rubber bullets at protesters.
    In central Rome, students stoned police in a protest over money-saving plans for the school system. A few dozen protesters, hurling bottles and large firecrackers, clashed with riot police, who fired tear gas and dragged away at least one bleeding protester into a police van, a Reuters witness said.
    International rail services were disrupted by strikes in Belgium and workers in Greece, Italy and France demonstrated as part of a "European Day of Action and Solidarity".
    At the solidarity event in the German capital, Greek sales person Loukia Giannouli said it made her feel better to show solidarity.
    "I am here, because I am thinking of my friends and family, who experience very difficult times. I think of all the people in Europe, who suffer under these austerity measures and are trying to rescue banks. I feel better if I show solidarity and join in," said Giannouli.
    In a market hall in Berlin district Kreuzberg, her fellow countryman Ioannis Michelakis works at a Greek imbiss. He didn't join the gathering at Brandenburg Gate, but was also in favour of the strikes. He said it was up to the Greek themselves to improve their situation. "The Greek have to change it themselves and all pay their tax. I don't know if the Greek will improve it and pay tax now. In my opinion that if all the money from the rich Greeks will be paid back to the Greek banks, a bit of the problem will be solved.
    Because, all the money is gone. Banks are empty and like the German politicians said: Greece is like a bottomless pit," he said. A few metres away works Mauricio Roloff at the Spanish imbiss. The chef, who's native is Brazil, but who lived in Spain for many years before settling in Germany, said: "For me this strikes are important, because the people don't have work and money. I think that it is also better for new politics in Spain, which aren't good at the moment."
    The general strike was the biggest Europe-wide challenge by organised labour to austerity policies that have aggravated recessions and mass unemployment in nearly three years since the start of the euro zone's debt crisis. But it seemed unlikely to force hard-pressed governments to change their cost-cutting strategies.
    In Portugal and Greece - both rescued with European funds and under strict austerity programmes - the economic downturn sharpened in the third quarter, data showed in Wednesday.
    Portuguese unemployment jumped to a record 15.8 percent while next door, in Spain, one in four of the workforce is jobless. Greece's economic output shrank by 7.2 percent on an annual basis in the third quarter as the debt-laden country staggers towards its sixth year of depression.
    Close to 26 million people are unemployed in the European Union while governments take aim at spending on treasured universal health care and public schools.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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