Homeless on the street in Athens

Brussels, November 17 (RHC)-- According to sources in Europe, the gloomy economic outlook continues to trigger protests across the European Union.  Demonstrators in several European countries have taken to the streets demanding pay rises and better working conditions.

In the UK, tens of thousands of nurses will go on strike for the first time, demanding better pay as the cost of living soars.  The industrial action called by the RCN would begin before the end of the year, unprecedented in its 106 year history.  Union representatives say that the salaries of nurses have dropped by as much as 20% in real terms over the last 10 years, which has left members struggling to feed their families and to pay their bills.  

Hundreds of workers at London's Heathrow Airport will walk out in run up to the Football World Cup in Qatar this month over demands for better pay. The 700 workers will strike for three days beginning on November 18.

In Greece, workers have held a 24 hour general strike, which has seen thousands of protesters on the streets of Athens and the northern city of Thessaloniki.  Clashes erupted between protesters and security forces.

The European Union has warned that the eurozone is set to slide into recession over the winter with Brussels hiking inflation forecasts for 2022 and 2023 amid soaring energy prices.

In Paris, commuters faced with delays as Metro workers called a major one day pay strike. A variety of unions have recently staged strikes across several sectors seeking pay increases or increased hiring amid spiraling energy costs and widespread inflation.

The European Central Bank has announced three rate hikes this year, bringing the rates from negative territory to 1.5%. The soaring cost of energy has been the main driver of higher inflation across the whole continent in recent months.