Spanish unions to march against pension plan
A protest against plans to raise the retirement age is planned for Spanish workers on Tuesday. The plan to raise the retirement age also includes a 50 billion euro austerity plan and a proposal to reform labor laws. With a poll showing that around 50% of Spaniards support a strike, organizers are hoping for around 40,000-50,000 protesters in the capitol and more in other cities where protests are planned. The protest marks the first demonstration in Spain since December, when union members took to the streets to stop the cut of worker's benefits. The Prime Minister of Spain, Jose Zapatero has promised not to make the hiring and firing of workers cheaper, which analysts say has stopped some protests. Some believe that recent events in Greece have anxiety about Spain's future and the proposal and protests are in reaction to that.
See "Spanish unions to march against pension plan", Jason Webb and Feliciano Tisera, Reuters, February 22, 2010