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A series of major pan-European general strikes have been planned for the end of this month protesting pension-cutting austerity plans. In the lead-up to the strike, there have been a series of major street protests and shutdowns over the summer in France, Greece, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Britain, Romania, and other nations. Tens of thousands of rank-and-file union members in Greece shut down the country for 2 days in early May over pension reforms, and a major demonstration in Athens ended violently with 3 people being killed. On Saturday Greek unions turned out in droves in Thessaloniki, where Prime Minister Papandreou gave his annual economic speech and was attacked by one angry protester who hurled a shoe above his head. In France, unions took to the streets in late June, also over pension cuts, and just last week launched massive street protests against a proposal to raise the retirement age. In Spain, in late June, rail workers in Madrid went on a 3-day strike, bringing the city to a standstill to protest austerity measures.

GUEST: Steven Hill, author of the new book “Europe’s Promise: Why The European Way Is The Best Hope In An Insecure Age”

Find out more at www.europespromise.org.