Germany: half a million against welfare cuts (mp3)

Half a million took to the streets in Germany on Saturday April 3rd, to protest at welfare cuts being pushed through by the Social Democrat-Green Party coalition government, known by the rather innocent-sounding name of "Agenda 2010". (mp3, 3 minutes 6 seconds)

The protests, held in Berlin, Cologne, and Stuttgart, were called by the German trade union confederation DGB, as part of a Europe-wide day of action called by the European TUC. John Monks, ETUC leader, called for "millions to be involved...[to] make an impact on the thinking of governments, businesses and all citizens". Sadly, most ETUC member organisations chose to sit back and do next-to-nothing. The British TUC, for example, chose to mark the "day of action" with press conferences with Labour MEPs or a booklet aimed at union reps on the advantages of the "European social model" - that's the one currently being abolished - but the TUC doesn't seem to have noticed that.

Apart from the 500,000 in Germany, there was a march of 5,000 in Paris, as well as demonstrations in Ljubiana (Slovenia) and Bratislava (Slovakia).

This audio report, lasting 3:06, is from the main demonstration (250,000 turnout) in Berlin. It was produced originally for "Radio LabourStart", http://radio.labourstart.org/

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