General strike shuts down Portugal

A general strike against European Union-International Monetary Fund austerity shut down most of Portugal's transportation networks and public services. Most flights in and out of the country were canceled because of the Thursday strike, the EUobserver reported. Many state employees and factory workers went on strike. Hospitals provided emergency services only and trash was not collected Thursday. Demonstrations in Lisbon were predominantly peaceful, except for an incident in front of the parliament building where seven protesters were arrested and a police sustained an injury requiring hospitalization. Government officials said 11 percent of public workers participated in the strike but union leaders said the number was much higher. "It was a strike with a very strong signal against the impoverishment of the country," said Carvalho da Silva, leader of General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers, Portugal's largest trade union. "There is a real sense of outrage." The general strike came as the rating agency Fitch downgraded Portugal's status from BBB- to BB+. "The country's large fiscal imbalances, high indebtedness across all sectors, and adverse macroeconomic outlook mean the sovereign's credit profile is no longer consistent with an investment-grade rating," the agency said. Union leaders said they will not hesitate to call for more strikes if the government does not negotiate a budget that is more popular with citizens. "Do they want a climate of dialogue or one of social conflict? We don't want to, but if the government forces us we will go on another strike," said Joao Proenca of General Union of Workers, a socialist trade union.