ETUC Day of Action - September 29th

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has announced plans to hold a European Day of Action on September 29th, including a rally in Brussels, to protest against the spending cuts, which is expected to attract 100,000 demonstrators.

The ETUC said trimming public expenditure would harm recovery from the worst economic crisis in decades, especially if it is done in economically stronger countries.

"We made this call for a high-level meeting (with the EU) out of despair and alarm at the prospects of growth in Europe as all countries, not just those in distress, move to cut their budgets," ETUC GS John Monks said. "The fact that all of them are doing it at the same time is our biggest worry."

The ETUC John Monks said Germany should boost spending, for example by allowing wages to grow, to generate extra demand in the 16-nation euro zone.

Unions would press the governments to ensure the poorest in society are not burdened too much. "We will keep on the pressure in the months ahead, we don't want a bleak mid-winter for the unemployed," he said