Portugual's workers set for general strike

A general strike against austerity looked set to shut down Portugal on Thursday of this week.

It is only the second general strike backed by both main union federations since Portugal’s bailout in 2011.

More sectors of workers came onboard last week, and the national railway company said it couldn’t take bookings for the day.

The CGTP union federation has called for the government to resign. It has been in turmoil since April when the Constitutional Court ruled some of its planned cuts illegal.

It came up with alternative measures, including a later retirement age.

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