- LISBON, Portugal: A strike by Lisbon subway staff has kicked off a week of protests by Portuguese public transport workers angered by government cutbacks aimed at solving the country’s debt crisis.
Trade unions oppose the minority Socialist government’s public sector pay cuts, tax hikes and reductions in welfare entitlements.
The measures aim to shrink Portugal’s huge debt load, which has frightened away investors and stoked Europe’s crisis over too much debt in some of the countries that use the euro.
The Lisbon subway shut down for six hours during the morning commute Monday. Bus and rail workers also plan strikes this week.