Strike hits Madrid metro for fourth day

Spain's Capital was hit by transport chaos for a fourth consecutive day on Thursday as a strike by workers on the Metro over protesting pay cuts slashed services by half.

The 7,500 workers are protesting against a wage cut of approx 5.0 percent issued by the regional government, which is in line with similar measures on public employees' pay adopted last month by Spain's national government as part of their austerity drive.

On Wednesday the workers elected to continue their strike on the metro's 12 lines, to Thursday and Friday, but promised they would ensure a minimum 50-percent service, which they have not provided in the past.

They will go back to work Saturday to Monday, when they will meet again, with the possibility of an open-ended strike thereafter.

Spain's trade unions have already planned a 24-hour general strike, to take place on September 29 against public spending cuts and reform of the labour laws.