Spanish unions rally against pension reform

Spanish unions have staged nationwide rallies to protest against planned austerity measures, including a raise in the retirement age.

In Madrid thousands of activists braved the cold on Saturday, upset over the proposed hike, which could see workers retiring at 67 instead of the current age of 65.

Unions have threatened another general strike, if the government does not back down.

One protester said:’‘The big lie in this country is, when they say that we need a retirement pension system, because what we need is employment to create a sustainable system.’‘

Another protester said:’‘Can you imagine a 67 year old bricklayer on a scaffold?’‘

But, Unions have struggled to garner wider public support and Spain’s socialist government has pledged to move ahead with its pension reforms. Madrid is under intense pressure to get to grips with its deficit with fears it may follow Ireland and Greece and have to go cap in hand for an EU bailout. But, protesters accuse the government of caving in to market forces.

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