Don't make me angry

Published November 24, 2010
People walk past a banner in downtown Lisbon, announcing the upcoming general strike for Portugal, November 23, 2010.
People walk past a banner in downtown Lisbon, announcing the upcoming general strike for Portugal, November 23, 2010.
A woman prepares to cross a street near a banner in downtown Lisbon, announcing the upcoming general strike.
A woman prepares to cross a street near a banner in downtown Lisbon, announcing the upcoming general strike.
Union members block the entrance of a ferry terminal during a general strike in Almada, on the outskirts of Lisbon November 24, 2010.
Union members block the entrance of a ferry terminal during a general strike in Almada, on the outskirts of Lisbon November 24, 2010.
Union members block the entrance of a Volkswagen car factory during a general strike in Palmela, on the outskirts of Lisbon.
Union members block the entrance of a Volkswagen car factory during a general strike in Palmela, on the outskirts of Lisbon.
Portuguese union leaders Joao Proenca of UGT (L) looks on as Carvalho da Silva of CGTP speaks on the phone as they block the entrance of a Volkswagen car factory with union workers during a general strike.
Portuguese union leaders Joao Proenca of UGT (L) looks on as Carvalho da Silva of CGTP speaks on the phone as they block the entrance of a Volkswagen car factory with union workers during a general strike.
Buses are parked at a station during a general strike in Lisbon.
Buses are parked at a station during a general strike in Lisbon.
Lisbon's underground trains are seen parked at a station during a general strike.
Lisbon's underground trains are seen parked at a station during a general strike.
Lisbon's commuter trains are parked at a station in Cacem during a general strike.
Lisbon's commuter trains are parked at a station in Cacem during a general strike.
Passengers walk at Lisbon airport.
Passengers walk at Lisbon airport.
A man walks next to a banner that reads ?Don't cross the picket line? at a university in Lisbon November 24, 2010.
A man walks next to a banner that reads ?Don't cross the picket line? at a university in Lisbon November 24, 2010.

Portugal's two biggest unions held their first joint general strike since 1988 on Wednesday, hoping to weaken the Socialist government's resolve on implementing austerity measures meant to tackle a debt crisis. Unions stopped trains and buses, grounded planes and halted services from healthcare to banking in protest against wage cuts and rising unemployment. Protest action in Western Europe's poorest country has been tame during the economic crisis that began in 2008. But Portuguese were angered by the government's 2011 budget plan to cut wages for civil servants by five per cent and freeze pensions.

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