Portuguese strike over asceticism plan

Tens of thousands of workers walked off the job in Portugal Wednesday protest plans to cut Government increase public salaries and taxes — idle ports, trains and stores in the biggest strike the country has seen since the recession.

The strike came at a difficult time for the Socialist Government of Prime Minister José Socrates fighting Portugal of the debt crisis to protect, the Greece Ireland the brink of financial collapse brought hat.Portugiesische bonds have a beating recently taken as investors remain that more than three times the EU was skeptical about the ability of Government to slash of the budget deficit limit last year.

Francisco SECO/associated press A fly passengers to the United States pushed its trolley in an almost deserted check-in Hall from Lisbon International Airport Wednesday.

"It is very hard measures imposing and those who suffer are the workers who had done nothing to do with establishing the crisis in the first place," Rita Silva said an official of the opposition left block, the fourth-largest party in Parliament.

Drums in central Lisbon, accompanied by a dozen young people hammering added Ms Silva: "our salaries and benefits will be cut.""In the meantime and bankers your normal life to continue."

Trade unions, the representative of the 650,000 employees approved the strike, the first general strike since 2007.Workers called the action this year after the Government began a second round of cost-cutting measures to reach its deficit-cutting objectives.

"The strike was peaceful, with a few reports of violence and disturbing incidents, said Labour Minister Helena André." "The strike was a demonstration of civic spirit of Portuguese for those, who went on strike and those who do not," she said.

Public services most affected, especially transport, education and health care.Abgesagt.Verkehr on Avenida were half of the trains from Santa Apolónia station, an important hub as Liberdade, one of the main roads of the city was quieter than normal, and many shops in the whole Lisbon were closed and underground stations in central Lisbon were closed.

The General Confederation of Portuguese workers said virtually all Lisbon u-Bahn workers took part and involvement was also strong under the Town Hall of employees in the cities on the edge of the capital including Palmela, Barreiro and Alcochete.

The strike shutdown ferry lines linking Lisbon to the cities of the Tagus River and forced airlines cancel most flights.

João Proença, Secretary General who said General Workers Union, the largest private sector Union in the country, the strike in Portugal ever was the largest."There was a strong turnout and not only in the public sector but also in the private sector."

The Union CGTP said 95% of workers in the Volkswagen don't show car European facility up for Arbeit.Das SIC television network of the vegetable production has stopped.

Reuters Trade Union members block the receipt of a factory for Volkswagen car during a general strike in Palmela, on the outskirts of Lisbon.

"But Antonio Pereira, owner of a national lottery licence, was open for business as usual."Small businesses can afford to close, although we are supporting what unions want ", he said."

391,887 Central Government said workers, more than 20% or 78,833, joined the strike, Gonçalo Castillo dos Santos, Portuguese Secretary of public administration.

"We respect the right to protest... but tomorrow we must all join together to fight for the common interest," said Mr Castillo dos Santos.

Portugal took a budget deficit of 9.3% of gross domestic product in year 2009.Die Government hopes 7.3% ultimate goal being verringern.Das this year and by 4.6% next year to bring the gap back storage period the EU limit of 3% of GDP by 2013.

In September, a further increase in VAT to 23% 21% for the next year, announced the Government cut salary cuts in spending on Gehälter.Die be together with 5% progressive, with high income groups, where a greater success.

Write toPatricia Kowsmann at the patricia.kowsmann@dowjones.com

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