Several more unions to join Dec.15 demo against govt measures, says LIGA

Budapest, December 12 (MTI) – Another seven unions will join the national demonstration on Dec. 15 in protest against government measures affecting employees, the head of the LIGA union confederation, said on Friday.

The unions to join the action include the federation of transport unions, the union of higher education teachers and the union of law enforcement and public administration workers, and will bring the total number of unions at the protest to fourteen, Istvan Gasko told a press conference.

A partial road blockade will be held at 60 points in the country between 7am and 4pm with demands for higher wages, a loosening of strike rules and the withdrawal of plans to phase out early retirement. Further, they will protest against plans to increase taxes on non-wage earnings such as vouchers, voluntary pensions and health insurance savings.

The demands affect as many as 4 million workers, Gasko said.

Meanwhile, the trade union of tobacco industry workers announced earlier this week a full-day demonstration for Dec. 15 in Budapest against the government’s new measures affecting the industry.

The demonstrators will mount a partial road blockade from 8am on Dec. 15 and will gather in front of parliament from noon, the organisers said.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters