EU workers brace for more strikes

ngry workers from different countries across Europe have planned massive demonstrations to protest at their governments' austerity measures which they say will affect their wages.

The workers' decision comes a day ahead of the European leaders' meeting in Brussels that seeks to find a permanent answer to the debt crisis.

The protestors plan to form a human chain around the headquarters of the European Commission, shouting, "No to austerity for everyone and bonuses for a happy few."

"As the year comes to an end, bonuses are flowing, making the contrast between private wealth and public austerity all the more obvious," said John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation.

"European trade unions ask the governments to stop attacking wages and welfare, to act together, to stop racing from one crisis to the next, to stop destroying our social Europe," Monks added.

In Luxembourg, unions from Belgium, Germany and France will join together in front of the chamber of deputies where Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker leads the group of the European finance ministers.

In Greece, GSEE union organizes the seventh general strike of the year on budget cuts.

More protests are also to be held in France, Luxembourg, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Spain.

The Czech police and firefighters will mob in the streets of Prague to show their protest against the proposed 2011 budget cuts.

The year 2010 has seen many massive work stoppages all around Europe, denouncing budget cuts and unemployment.

MZ/PKH/AKM