German Workers Demonstrate Against Kohl’s Austerity Package

Thu., June 13, 1996

Associated Press

Thousands of German workers demonstrated Wednesday against Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s proposals for sharp cuts in the federal budget.

Police said a rally planned for this weekend in Bonn could attract hundreds of thousands of protesters.

More than 20,000 Volkswagen employees marched from their plant in Wolfsburg to the center of town for a rally against the proposed $32 billion austerity package, which includes cuts in Germany’s generous social benefits.

Kohl says the budget cuts are needed to boost the weak economy, restore the competitiveness of German industry and combat soaring unemployment, which has hit post-war records this year.

Another 6,000 people in Emden turned out for another rally organized by the IG Metall metalworkers union.

The German Labor Federation is expecting up to 300,000 people to attend the rally Saturday against what it calls the planned dismantling of Germany’s social-welfare net. Special trains, boats and thousands of buses are being organized to bring people to the city on the Rhine.

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German Workers Demonstrate Against Kohl’s Austerity Package

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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