Tens of thousands of people marched through central London on 18th October, 2014 to protest against falling real wages and public spending cuts introduced to compensate the budget deficit in Britain.Trades Union Congress (TUC), a federation of the country’s main trade unions, which organised the protest action, estimated that around 80,000 supporters had gathered on the banks of the River Themes. Led by TUC chief Frances O’grady, other union leaders and a marching band, the mile-long train of demonstrators set off from Waterloo Bridge and culminated at Hyde Park. “Britain needs a Pay Rise” being the main slogan, the organisers demanded the government to take action to increase wages in both public and private sectors, as they have slumped by $80 a week since 2008. A recent study by the New Economic Foundation found that households had suffered a 15 per cent decline in their real income over the last year, while the Institute for Policy Research reported that wages had failed to keep pace with inflation since 2008.

RAILWAY STRIKE IN GERMANY: Biggest German rail strike on busy autumn weekend has hit the railway services badly. The rail drivers union began its largest strikes in recent years at 3 PM on 17th October and would continue up to 20th inst. The union accused national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn of stone-walling in talks over its demands for a five per cent wage hike and shorter working week of 37 hours. The magnitude of the industrial action was surprising in a country where warning strikes rarely last more than a day.                           (source:The Hindu)