Germans Protest Cuts In Social Welfare

More than 200,000 workers walked off their jobs Thursday in nationwide protests against proposed government cuts in social welfare programs.

The demonstrations came a day before parliament was to vote on Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s $32 billion austerity package to stimulate the economy and reduce unemployment.

The austerity package contains tax reforms, reductions in unemployment benefits and other measures that would cut deeply into social entitlements, although Kohl has agreed to some changes that would ease the impact on workers.

Union officials said 15,000 workers at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg were striking. Workers on the early shift at the Audi plant in Neckarsulm left their jobs to join 4,500 others at a protest march.