Millions of workers join anti-austerity strikes across southern Europe

Workers from Telefonica phone company take part in a demonstration blocking the traffic and protesting against the unjustified dismissals at their company ahead of a general strike in Barcelona Spain on Tuesday, Nov 13, 2012. Spain's main trade unions will stage a general strike, coinciding with similar work stoppages in Portugal and Greece, to protest government-imposed austerity measures and labour reforms. The strike will be the second in Spain this year. The masks reads in Spanish: "I am a profitable person". -- PHOTO: AP

A woman looks at a board depicting Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, Portugal's Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho and Foreign Minister Paulo Portas, the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi, and the CEO of the Deutsche Bank Josef Ackermann gambling in a casino, in Lisbon on Tuesday, Nov 13, 2012. Portuguese main union General Confederation of Portuguese Workers, CGTP, has called for a general strike on Nov 14, coinciding with similar work stoppages in Spain and Greece, to protest government-imposed austerity measures and labor reforms. The poster was put by a left wing politic party called Bloco Esquerda near a bus stop. -- PHOTO: AP

Riot police officers clash with demonstrators as Bolivia's transport and trade unions hold a one-day strike to protest a proposed law that would allow the state to seize private property linked to illegal activities, on Nov 13, 2012 in Santa Cruz, some 900km from La Paz in eastern Boliva. The lower house of Congress has given the bill preliminary approval. It still needs to go before the Senate and then be signed by President Evo Morales. -- PHOTO: AFP

Members of the Workers' Trade Unionist Federation (USO), the Comisiones Obreras trade union (CCOO) and the General Union of Workers (UGT) wave banner as they gather at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid on Nov 13, 2012, on the eve of a general strike.Spain, the euro zone's fourth-largest economy where one in four workers is unemployed in a deep recession, is calling its second general strike in eight months to protest draconian budget cuts.  -- PHOTO: AFP

Firefighters meet with people in a picket line wearing vests that read "General strike" in their Lisbon headquarters on Nov 13, 2012. Portugal and Spain are holding a general strike on Nov 14 against austerity. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Lisbon's garbage trucks are seen parked at a garage in Lisbon on the beginning of the general strike on Nov 13, 2012. Portuguese workers began to walk-out on the eve of the Nov 14 general strike on Tuesday in protest against policies that are cutting social benefits, reducing wages and increasing taxes as part of an austerity programme designed to slash Portugal's public deficit after the country asked for a 78 billion euro (S$121 billion) bailout last year. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A demonstrator throws a tire to the fire to block the entrance to the largest market in the city "mercabarna" during a national strike in Barcelona, Spain, on Nov 13, 2012, on the eve of a general strike. Spain, the euro zone's fourth-largest economy where one in four workers is unemployed in a deep recession, is calling its second general strike in eight months to protest draconian budget cuts. Spain's main CCOO and UGT unions urged people to rally under slogans such as "They are taking away our future!", deploying pickets during the night at airports, bus and railway stations. -- PHOTO: AFP

People block an entrance of Mercabarna (wholesale market) at Zona Franca in Barcelona on Nov 14, 2012. Spain's two largest labour unions have called for a general strike on Nov 14, the second against the conservative government since they took power in December and coinciding with industrial action in Portugal on the same day. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Policemen guard a Bankia bank with a graffiti reading "Assassins" during a general strike in Madrid, Spain on Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012. Spain's main trade unions stage a general strike, coinciding with similar work stoppages in Portugal and Greece, to protest government-imposed austerity measures and labor reforms. The strike is the second in Spain this year. -- PHOTO: AP

A mounted Spanish National Police officer escorts a municipal bus as it leaves depots at the start of a general strike in Madrid on Nov 14, 2012. Spanish and Portuguese workers will stage the first coordinated general strike across the Iberian Peninsula on Wednesday, shutting transport, grounding flights and closing schools to protest against spending cuts and tax hikes. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Trade Unions take a breakfast early in the morning outside of a factory during a general strike against government austerity measures, in Pamplona, northern Spain on Wednesday, Nov 14, 2012. A Spanish Interior Ministry official says 32 people have been arrested and 15 people treated for minor injuries in disturbances as a general strike in Spain against austerity measures and economic reforms began. -- PHOTO: AP

An advertising board is seen at a nearly empty arrival hall at Atocha rail station during a 24-hour nationwide general strike in Madrid on Nov 14, 2012. Spanish and Portuguese workers staged the first coordinated strike across the Iberian peninsula on Wednesday, shutting down transport, grounding flights and closing schools to protest austerity measures and tax hikes. -- PHOTO: REUTERS