Workers’ strikes, Europe

In a coordinated action protesting government spending cuts and labor reforms in Europe, tens of thousands of people marched in the streets on Sept. 29 and even greater numbers went on strike.

A labor union estimated that about half of Spain’s work force, or 10 million people, joined in the country’s first general strike in eight years. More than 50,000 people marched on the European Union buildings in Brussels, Belgium. Tens of thousands marched in Lisbon and Porto, Portugal.

Others participated in Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia, the Czech Republic and Cyprus. Future strikes by unionized labor groups are very likely.