MADRID, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Spain's labor unions have confirmed there will be a general strike in Spain on Nov. 14 in protest of austerity and the policies of the government.
The call for a general strike coincides with the "day of action" that has been called by unions throughout the European Union. Greece and Portugal will also be participating in the shutdown.
The leader of the powerful Comisiones Obreras union in Spain, Ignacio Fernandez Toxo, said the protest was to show "firm opposition to the politics of austerity which are not generating confidence, but are instead causing an increase in unemployment and an economic recession in Europe."
This will be the second general strike in Spain this year, the first being on March 29 in protest labor reforms introduced by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's government.
There have been increased protests in Spain, with two major marches organized by the Social Council in Madrid, one of which saw 500,000 people take to the streets.
These protests were augmented by the 25-September movement whose attempt to surround the Spanish congress building led to ugly scenes and over 60 people being injured as police baton-charged protesters.