Italian Unions Threaten General Strike Over New Austerity

[G_j]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/08/14-2

Published on Sunday, August 14, 2011 by Reuters

Italian Unions Threaten General Strike Over New Austerity
Austerity plan draws wide criticism
by Valentina Za


MILAN - Italy's second austerity package in less than a month met with a chorus of criticism a day after becoming law, with the largest union federation threatening a general strike over the "injustice" of the measures.

President Giorgio Napolitano on Saturday signed the emergency decree introducing sweeping austerity measures to cut the fiscal deficit by some 45.5 billion euros ($64.7 billion) and balance the budget in 2013, a year ahead of its previous schedule.

"A missed opportunity," was the comment by the chief economist of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Pier Carlo Padoan, in daily La Stampa on Sunday.

Padoan said the plan was positive in the pledge to bring forward the balanced budget but it lacked measures to boost growth and tackle tax evasion. Employers' lobby Confindustria estimates Italy's tax evasion totals 120 billion euros.

CGIL union confederation leader Susanna Camusso told la Repubblica the package "hits only those who already pay their taxes," adding that the date of a general strike would be decided at an emergency union meeting on August 23.



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[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[socialist_n_TN]

2. As I said in the other thread about this topic

The European unions should get together on this and call for an "All Europe" general strike. NOw that would REALLY get their attention.

[G_j]

3. agreed

one of these years maybe the people in the US will wake up...but I won't hold my breath..