General Strike

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian public employees virtually shut down all Palestinian Authority offices and schools in the West Bank on Wednesday, the first day of a two-day general strike to protest the government's failure to pay their November salaries. Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said his government does not have the money to pay salaries after Israel froze the transfer of more than $100 million in tax funds to the Palestinian Authority. He called the Israeli measure “an act of piracy” and urged Palestinians to boycott Israeli products if Israel persists in withholding payment of the tax revenue, which it collects from West Bank importers using Israeli ports.

TUNIS, Tunisia - The slain Tunisian opposition leader's coffin was driven through rain-swept streets lined with soldiers and crammed with mourners who chanted against the Islamist-led government and marched with placards through the heart of this troubled capital. Chokri Belaid's funeral procession moved slowly through neighborhoods Friday while his compatriots clashed with police and demonstrated by the tens of thousands on the third day of unrest that has sharpened political divisions in the birthplace of the "Arab Spring.

Reporting from San Francisco -- The revived Occupy Oakland movement has called for a citywide general strike Wednesday that has garnered nationwide support from activists and the philosophical backing of labor unions, while triggering growing consternation that the city's strained economy could suffer further. The call for businesses to close and residents to demonstrate at banks and later march to the Port of Oakland came after last week's heavy police response to protesters speaking out against the razing of the movement's City Hall encampment.

TUNIS, Tunisia - Tunisia's Islamist-led government Thursday rejected a proposal by its prime minister to form a new Cabinet amid growing political tension after nationwide protests sparked by the assassination of a key opposition figure. The announcement by the dominant Nahda party highlighted differences among Islamists and spurred fresh uncertainty over how to keep the slaying of Chokri Belaid, a fierce government critic, from tipping the economically fragile country into deeper unrest.

Lebanese Christians and Muslims, who have been fighting each other in an 11-year-old civil war, united in a general strike today against raging inflation that is destroying the remnants of their nation's economy.

A general strike, called by major unions protesting layoffs and the high cost of living, spread across this Caribbean island today and union leaders said the protest would last at least three days. A walkout by water commission workers cut off water in the north coast tourist resort city of Montego Bay, and commercial flights were delayed because of a job action by some air traffic controllers.

A 24-hour general strike today shut factories, airports and banks across Portugal as an estimated 2 million workers staged the biggest industrial action in the country's history to protest government labor reforms.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators thronged major Italian cities to protest planned government budget cuts, rallying in support of a general strike that snarled transport and closed post offices, banks and public offices across the country. Theaters in several cities performed "Requiem" funeral masses by Mozart, Verdi and Brahms "for the announced death of all cultural activities" due to reduced arts funding.

Northern Ireland's Protestants plan to carry their opposition to the Anglo-Irish agreement giving the Dublin government a consultative role in the operations of the province into the streets despite a series of concessions by their opponents. Protestant leaders Wednesday announced a one-day general strike for next Monday throughout Northern Ireland to voice their contempt for terms of the agreement between the Irish Republic and Britain.

Los Angeles officials have offered Occupy L.A. protesters a package of incentives that includes downtown office space and farmland in an attempt to persuade them to abandon their camp outside of City Hall, according to several demonstrators who have been in negotiations with the city. The details of the proposal were revealed Monday during the demonstration's nightly general assembly meeting by Jim Lafferty, an attorney with the National Lawyers Guild who has been advocating on behalf of the protest since it began seven weeks ago. Lafferty said city officials have offered protesters a $1-a-year lease on a 10,000-square-foot office space near City Hall.

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian public employees virtually shut down all Palestinian Authority offices and schools in the West Bank on Wednesday, the first day of a two-day general strike to protest the government's failure to pay their November salaries. Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said his government does not have the money to pay salaries after Israel froze the transfer of more than $100 million in tax funds to the Palestinian Authority. He called the Israeli measure “an act of piracy” and urged Palestinians to boycott Israeli products if Israel persists in withholding payment of the tax revenue, which it collects from West Bank importers using Israeli ports.

MADRID - Millions of Spaniards stayed off the job Thursday to protest new labor laws that allow companies to opt out of collective bargaining pacts, reduce wages and fire workers more easily. The general strike stalled public transportation and shut factories and schools across the country. Angry confrontations erupted between hordes of protesters and riot police officers, but no major violence was reported. It was the first such large-scale labor action against the policies of conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and the strongest public rebuke yet of his austerity measures.

Greece's precarious financial and political situation was shaken further Friday by a nationwide strike and a wave of Cabinet resignations over demands by the European Union for ever-deeper spending cuts. Four Cabinet members — two Socialists and two far-right conservatives — quit their posts in protest over the demands. Their exit forced Prime Minister Lucas Papademos to consider an urgent reshuffle to stanch the tide of defections before a crucial parliamentary vote on the austerity measures, scheduled for Sunday.

Los Angeles officials have offered Occupy L.A. protesters a package of incentives that includes downtown office space and farmland in an attempt to persuade them to abandon their camp outside of City Hall, according to several demonstrators who have been in negotiations with the city. The details of the proposal were revealed Monday during the demonstration's nightly general assembly meeting by Jim Lafferty, an attorney with the National Lawyers Guild who has been advocating on behalf of the protest since it began seven weeks ago. Lafferty said city officials have offered protesters a $1-a-year lease on a 10,000-square-foot office space near City Hall.

Thousands of demonstrators chanted, marched, danced and waved signs Wednesday during a general strike called by Occupy Oakland, a largely peaceful protest that snarled downtown streets, rerouted buses, closed the busy port and drew hundreds of teachers and city workers from classrooms and offices. The daylong, citywide protest against income inequality and corporate greed began about 9 a.m., as a crowd converged at the civic center, where Occupy Oakland has had its on-again-off-again encampment; it did not end until after an evening march, in which thousands swarmed the Port of Oakland, the country's fifth busiest.

Reporting from San Francisco -- The revived Occupy Oakland movement has called for a citywide general strike Wednesday that has garnered nationwide support from activists and the philosophical backing of labor unions, while triggering growing consternation that the city's strained economy could suffer further. The call for businesses to close and residents to demonstrate at banks and later march to the Port of Oakland came after last week's heavy police response to protesters speaking out against the razing of the movement's City Hall encampment.

A general strike shut down much of Zimbabwe's already crippled economy, but security forces prevented efforts to organize massive street protests against President Robert Mugabe. Most banks, shops and other businesses remained closed across the troubled southern African country on the second day of a show of anti-government sentiment. Security forces reacted swiftly to crush street demonstrations, using rubber clubs, rifle butts, water cannons, tear gas and warning shots to disperse crowds.

The main opposition parties here have called a six-hour general strike for Saturday to protest plans by military ruler Hussain Mohammed Ershad to hold parliamentary elections in April. Two opposition alliances linking a total of 22 parties said that "elections under martial law are bound to be a farce and the results tailored." Ershad, who seized power in a bloodless coup in March, 1982, says he wants to end military rule and restore democracy.

An Arab League delegation tasked with helping to end violence in Syria met Wednesday with President Bashar Assad, as antigovernment activists said a general strike paralyzed parts of the country and that 17 more people had been killed. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Syrians chanting pro-Assad slogans gathered in central Damascus in a boisterous, nationally televised rally probably timed to coincide with the arrival of the Arab League delegation. An Arab League official told reporters that "frank and friendly" talks had been held with the president and more were planned, but no breakthrough was reported in efforts to end the bloody seven-month rebellion.

Ancient Greeks coined the word "austerity. " Modern Greeks are resenting it. Waving red flags and toting colorful placards, thousands of workers walked off the job Wednesday, pouring onto the streets of Athens and other Greek cities to challenge a new rash of proposed reforms and cost-cutting measures designed to save the cash-strapped country $33 billion through 2015. In Athens, about 30,000 protesters marched outside the nation's parliament building, jeering lawmakers and calling them "thieves" and "robbers.