Striking Spanish civil service
workers poured into the streets June 8 after the government announced a 5
percent pay cut for them this year and then a pay freeze. These measures are
part of an austerity program to reduce the country’s debt. Nearly 2.5 million
government workers will suffer the effects of the pay cuts.
Some government officials and
business owners are even attempting to reduce paid days for laid-off workers
from 45 for each year worked to 20.
Unions have threatened a
nationwide general strike to protest government actions. With the “reforms”
passing by a narrow margin in the Spanish government, workers’ protests could
bring the country to a standstill.
Soledad Artacho, a Spanish nurse,
said, “I feel bad that
it’s us who are paying for this, when we’re not to blame. It’s the financial
managers, or the politicians, who didn’t know how to control what was
happening.” (CNN World, June 8)
Workers should not have to suffer because of the crisis
of capitalism. Make the rich pay for their crisis!
