Spanish civil servants have today begun their protest at proposed wage cuts.

Hundreds of Spain’s public sector workers have today, 8 June, gone on strike over proposed pay cuts – cuts that the government hopes will fill the country’s deficit.

In May, the government proposed an average 5% public sector wage cut to help reduce the country’s budget deficit, which is more than 11%. The plans aim to cut the deficit by €15,250 million over two years.

In addition to the pay cuts, salaries will be frozen in 2011 and pension assessments suspended.

The day-long strike has so far taken the form of mass demonstrations, with some protesting in front of the country’s Finance Ministry.

Spain’s CCOO workers’ union stated: “To CCOO, the measures are unfair, unbalanced and wasteful and jeopardize collective bargaining and social peace.”

The union reported a 75% turnout in civil servants, in a strike that started at 00:00 last night. Around 70% of those who joined the strike are educational workers – including 90% of university staff, 70% of secondary school staff, and 60% of elementary teachers.

However, the Spanish labour ministry has reported only a 16% overall turnout.