EU personnel on strike over possible budget cuts

[November 08, 2012]  BRUSSELS (AP) -- Part of personnel at the European Union's institutions is on a one-day strike to protest possible budget cuts that will be considered by EU leaders later this month.

The leader of the USF union says Thursday that more action will be considered over the next weeks, including a stoppage during the Nov. 22-23 EU summit which was specially called to consider EU spending plans up to 2020.

USF President Sylvie Jacobs says `'it is quite likely we have to take further action" over the coming days. The unions fear that budget cuts would directly affect staffing and leave key programs without sufficient personnel for effective results.

Britain in particular has complained about EU staffing levels, with Prime Minister David Cameron demanding directly a crackdown on their costs.

[Associated Press]

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