Civil servants in Spain begin one-day strike to protest wage cut

Spain's public sector workers are on strike today in a protest against wage cuts which are aimed at reducing the country's huge deficit.

The action today is seen as a first show of strength for the unions that are considering calling a general strike if the Socialist government imposes labor market reforms that limit the rights and interests of workers.

Debates surrounding these reforms to make Spain's rigid labor market more flexible have been going on for months, but have taken on new urgency due to worries over the countries ability to post economic growth, slash its deficit and pay off debt.

Prime Minister Zapatero has come under fire from the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and even President Barack Obama to take bold action and ward off a Greek-style debt crisis that would further hurt the troubled euro.