ARGENTINA: Argentines protest in solidarity with European workers challenging austerity measures

Record ID: 447208

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Argentines protest in solidarity with European workers challenging austerity measures
  • Date: 14th November 2012
  • Summary: PEOPLE IN DEMONSTRATION
  • Embargoed: 29th November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Economy,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8FIE8EL5L51LVN6NS7O0RFPHJ
  • Story Text: Argentine leftists march in solidarity with European workers protesting austerity measures across the continent.


    Over 600 protesters rallied outside the Greek embassy and Spanish consulate in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires on Wednesday (November 14) in solidarity with European workers challenging austerity measures in their home countries.
    The protesters included members of various Argentine left-wing organisations as well as members of the Argentine Central Worker's Union (CTA).
    The protest began outside the Greek embassy before moving towards the Spanish consulate, and proceeded without any clashes or incidents with the police.
    "We are telling those people who tell us to not looking back, that we are not looking back, we are looking forward. Today looking back means looking towards Europe, and looking towards Europe means hunger, unemployment, labour adjustments and neo-liberal policies," said Roberto Baradel, the Secretary-General of the CTA in Buenos Aires
    In a statement, the CTA said that economic adjustments in Latin America in the 1990's caused widespread unemployment, suffering and social problems.
    On Wednesday, police and protesters clashed across Europe as millions of workers went on strike in organised labour's biggest Europe-wide challenge to austerity policies since the euro-zone crisis erupted three years ago.
    Hundreds of flights were canceled, schools were shut, factories were at a standstill and trains barely ran in Spain and Portugal where unions held their first joint general strike.
    Workers also protested in Greece and France against austerity policies that have taken a heavy economic toll and aggravated mass unemployment.
    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 in neighbouring Spain, one in four of the workforce is jobless. Greece's economic output shrank 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.
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