30,000 protest to save public-sector wages
Sunday 18 November 2012
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EmailOver 30,000 people protesting against austerity measures in Slovenia took to the streets of the capital Ljubljana at the weekend.
The government cut public-sector wages by 3 per cent this year and a further 5 per cent cut is expected next year, along with raising the retirement age and slashing unemployment benefits.
The cutbacks are expected to contract the economy by 2 per cent this year and a further 1.4 per cent next year.
The rally was organised by the Alliance of Slovenian Independent Unions (ZSSS), public-sector unions and student and pensioner organisations, which said the austerity package would only deepen the poverty hitting working people.
ZSSS leader Dusan Semolic said that "workers' salaries did not cause this crisis and workers should not be asked to pay for it.
"We demand that the government rejects the neoliberal virus that is spreading across Europe.
"The reforms have to be in line with the needs of citizens and not in line with expectations of the people in Brussels."
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