Coal miners carry on violent protests in Spain, burning tires and blocking off roads during a mass strike against subsidy cuts that could potentially cut tens of thousands of jobs.
As thousands marched in northern Spain over the last month, some 50 other mining towns have joined the crowd. In order to lower its deficit, Spain has slashed subsidies to the coal sector by nearly a third from last year. Meanwhile, the government has sought billions of euros to stabilize its banking sector.
"The crisis is a useful excuse for taking money from workers and giving it to the banks," Vicente Turrado, a retired miner, told AFP.
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Though some have carried out peaceful marches, many protests have turned radical, clashing with police armed rubber bullets.
The coal industry in Spain accounts for 8,000 coal miners and about 30,000 indirect jobs. Spain says it's committed to gradually closing non-profitable coal mines over the next few years, but unions aren't giving up. The UGT and CCOO unions have vowed to continue protesting, with plans to soon continue through to Madrid.
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