Italian Unions Threaten General Strike Over New Austerity

[defendandprotect]

Italian Unions Threaten General Strike Over New Austerity

(Reuters) - 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.


http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/14/us-italy-austerity-reaction-idUSTRE77D13Y20110814

[Warpy]

1. Austerity = strikes and riots

This has to be proven to the plutocrats over and over and over again.

I just wish the riots would start happening in their neighborhoods instead of ours.

[socialist_n_TN]

3. European unions need to start coordinating

these strikes. Solidarity and organization internationally would scare the shit out of the real bosses.

Agree with your second paragraph.

[amborin]

2. another hot autumn?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Autumn