Spain: Strikers protest 5 percent pay cut

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MADRID, June 8 (UPI) -- Spanish government workers Tuesday went on strike, saying a 5 percent pay cut under the prime minister's austerity measures unfairly penalizes public workers.

The public workers' strike to protest the cut -- which is to be imposed this month by the administration of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero -- has not affected Spain's air traffic control towers or airports, Think Spain and The Olive Press reported.

Unions for the Spanish Airports and Air Navigation workers said the strike is supported by 80 percent of civil servants, but the government said only 15 percent of the workers have been on strike.

The trade unions said they hope hospital, school, fire brigade and local government workers will join the strike.

The austerity measures are designed to reduce the national debt, as the national budget deficit stands at 11 per cent of the GDP, the newspapers reported.