Thousands marched July 11 in Madrid, Spain, protesting cutbacks in government expenditures adopted by the cabinet that day that target jobs and services working people depend on. Workers in the city joined miners from the north as they ended a 20-day, 250-mile-long march against the slashing of mining subsidies that will result in mine closures and job losses. Others blocked streets and railways. The demonstrations continued through July 13.

This latest round of cuts, the deepest in 30 years, include lower wages for public workers and lower jobless pay. Sales taxes will increase. Meanwhile, one in four workers in Spain are without a job.

The Spanish government is among others in Europe imposing “austerity” on workers in reaction to mounting fiscal and credit crises amid the worldwide slowdown in production and trade.

—EMMA JOHNSON