Resistance to austerity spreads across Europe

Massive demonstrations and strikes will rock Europe this summer as workers, students and the unemployed take to the streets against brutal austerity measures.

In Spain, a vibrant movement of young people has been sparked in response to poor employment conditions, poor wages and temporary contracts. As many as 40 per cent of Spain’s 4.5 million unemployed are under 25.

This new movement has been partly inspired by the events in Egypt. Camps were set up in cities across the country similar to those in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

After weeks of camping out in one of Madrid’s largest squares since May 15, protesters have decided to dismantle the tent city.

“A restructuring does not mean we are dissipating,” said one protester, Juan Cobo. A national demonstration has been organized for June 19.

In other countries, strikes continue to build momentum. In mid-May, a hugely successful one-day general strike took place in Italy, bringing the country to a halt.

Workers are resisting Silvio Berlusconi’s government and its austerity drive of cuts.

In Greece, new strikes have been launched in protest of a new wave of austerity measures. On
June 9, workers—who walked off the job at state companies likely to be privatized—were supported by civil servants.

In the UK, hundreds of thousands of workers are preparing for a massive day of action against the coalition government on June 30. More than half a million public sector workers are set to strike to defend their pensions.

And in Ireland, workers are mobilizing for a mass protest on July 16 against the visit of the International Monetary Fund, which has had a hand in the financial devastation of the country.