Big Yawn: Europe went out on strike yesterday.....

[G_j]

news that gets a collective yawn in the US,

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/wave-of-angry-demonstrations-across-europe-in-cuts-protests-2358948.html

Wave of angry demonstrations across Europe in cuts protests

By Fiona Govan in Madrid and Bruno Waterfield in Brussels

Thursday September 30 2010

Europe went out on strike yesterday as protesters took to the streets of Spain, Belgium, Italy and Greece to demonstrate against tough austerity measures.

Financial markets slipped as protests over the human cost of painful cuts spread across Europe.

Demonstrators took to the streets as new EU rules to prevent national governments bowing to pressure were tabled in Brussels.

Spain was gripped by a general strike, while demonstrators filled the streets of major cities in Italy. Doctors and rail workers in Greece walked out and the Irish parliament was blocked with a cement truck to protest at the high cost of bank bailouts at a time of deep cuts to public spending.

Brussels was paralysed by 100,000 trade union demonstrators from 24 countries, including Britain.

..more..

~~~~~~

http://www.imfmetal.org/index.cfm?c=24167&l=2


Millions of workers protest in Europe

European metalworkers joined millions of workers and trade unions from other sectors across Europe on September 29 to respond en masse to the European Trade Union Confederation's call to struggle against the austerity measures pursued by European governments

GLOBAL: Under the slogan "No to austerity, priority to jobs and growth" the European Day of Action took place mainly in the streets of Spain and Belgium, and Ireland, Italy and Poland, to demonstrate the workers' concerns and to fight for jobs in European manufacturing industries.

The current austerity measures threaten the fragile recovery in the industries and are leading to greater deindustrialization in Europe and a deep social recession. The European Metalworkers' Federation called for a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) for investment and jobs to keep industries afloat.

..more..

[aquart]

1. Austerity while the bankers get their bonuses? Oh, no.

[bobbolink]

2. While poor people in the US kill themselves.

[G_j]

3. quote from Sicko,

http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/a1/sicko-script-transcript-michael-moore.html

One of the things
that keeps everything running here


is that the government
is afraid of the people.


They're afraid of protests,
they're afraid of reactions from the people.


In the States, people are afraid of the
government. They're afraid of acting up.


They're afraid of protesting,
afraid of getting out.


In France, that's what people do.

[bluethruandthru]

5. When will we wake up and figure this out?

I guess as long as most people are plugged into their IPODS or Dancing with the Stars..or even the MSM..we don't have a prayer.

[bobbolink]

6. And that is true. What is worse is that the few of us who DO "act up" get blasted by our own.

As I keep saying lately, FUCK. IT. ALL.

[Chulanowa]

4. Union? Strike? What are these words?

Are you some kind of furriner?

[G_j]

11. sometimes I wish I was,

While the powerful have the media, teams of lawyers, lobbyists, politicians and the wealth to secure their interests,
the people have but unions, regulatory agencies and various NGOs to represent and protect them. Unions are vital. Why should we be without advocates?

[DirkGently]

7. Always strange to hear about countries in which the government fears annoying workers.

[Hannah Bell]

8. kr

[G_j]

9. ==

[uncommon]

10. k&r - this is how it should be - the people should scare the government, not the other way around!

[Yavin4]

12. This is Why Europe Has A Vibrant Middle Class and We Don't

Americans tend to think that a middle class is natural in a capitalistic based economy when the direct opposite is true. A middle class is formed when the people, through their government, makes it so with tough labor laws, regulations, and unions.

[earth mom]

13. TEN MILLION people went on strike in Spain. Power to the people!

:woohoo:

When are people in this country gonna get it?

[Techn0Girl]

15. That's not going to happen here in the U.S. untill people STOP being loyal to Parties that don't ...

represent them.

Unionize. It's good for America.

[earth mom]

16. Or until people stop being jealous of Union paid workers and recognize that Unions are the ONLY

reason they work 5 days a week, get vacations, retirement etc.

[TBF]

14. Solidarity K&R nt