A police officer fires tear gas as police face demonstrators during a protest against Italian Government austerity measures in Turin, Italy, on Nov. 14. Workers across the European Union sought to present a united front against rampant unemployment and government spending cuts Wednesday with a string of strikes and demonstrations across the region. Protesters clashed with police in various demonstrations in Rome, Milan, Turin, Padua and Brescia.

Police officers try to push protesters back onto the pavement after they blocked traffic on Oxford Street, London, while taking part in a picket and demonstration they said was over dismissals of 28 workers employed by contractors on the Crossrail transport project, for being trade union members, on Nov. 14. Crossrail, due to start running services in 2018, is a new train line that will include twin-bore 13 mile tunnels under central London and link 37 stations including transport hubs such as Heathrow airport with business districts including the City and Canary Wharf.

A protester holds a stone during clashes with riot police at a students' demonstration against austerity measures in downtown Rome on Nov. 14.

Protesters try to burn the flag of the European Union after storming the regional Palace of the Province in Turin, on Nov. 14.

Demonstrators set up a barricade of burning tires at the main entrance of Mercabarna, the biggest wholesale market in the city, at the beginning of a 24-hour strike on Nov. 14 in Barcelona, Spain. Spain's trade unions have called for today a general strike, the second of Mariano Rajoy's presidency. Protestors from social movements are expected to join striking public sector workers to demonstrate against austerity cuts, labour reforms and an unemployment rate of 25 percent.

Thousands of people from France and Belgium demonstrate during an anti-austerity protest in Lille on Nov. 14. Trade unions lead nationwide strikes and anti-austerity protests across Europe today.

Empty tracks at the Brussels South train station on Nov. 14. A 24-hour rail stoppage and scattered strikes through the south of the nation disrupted daily life. Both the Thalys and Eurostar high-speed rail services that connect Brussels with London and Paris were severely disrupted.

Demonstrators wave Catalan flags during a protest rally in Barcelona, Spain, Sept. 11, 2012.

Supporters of independence for Catalonia demonstrate on Sept. 11, in Barcelona.

Left-wing demonstrators burn a Spanish and French flag on top of a stage following a protest rally in Barcelona, Sept. 11.

A woman holds a banner during a demonstration calling for independence during Catalonia's National Day on Sept. 11, in Barcelona.

Ferran Estrada Porta, 79, wearing the traditional 'barretina' hat and holding a Catalan flag, plays his trumpet on the street in Barcelona, Sept. 11.

A demonstrator is chased by a police officers before been arrested during a protest against the recent austerity measures.

Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest in front of the ruling government party Popular Party headquarters in Madrid on Friday.

A demonstrator bleeds as she is detained by the riot police during a coal miners's march to the Minister of Industry building in Madrid, on July 11. Coal miners angered by huge cuts in subsidies converged on Madrid for protest rallies after walking nearly three weeks under the blazing sun from the pits where they eke out a living.

Miners and supporters march through the centre of Madrid, in protest against government austerity measures, July 11. Police fired rubber bullets at protesting miners on Wednesday, injuring several people, during a demonstration against slashes in coal subsidies aimed at trimming the budget deficit of the euro zone's fourth largest economy.

Police riots run after the demonstrators during the coal miners's march to the Minister of Industry building in Madrid, on July 11. Coal miners angered by huge cuts in subsidies converged on Madrid for protest rallies after walking nearly three weeks under a blazing sun from the pits where they eke out a living.

Demonstrators clash with riot police during the coal miner's march to the Minister of Industry's building in Madrid, on July 11. The miners' march into the capital was the culmination for some of a nearly three-week trek from the regions where they eke out a living. Miners who walked 18 days from northern and eastern mining regions were received as heroes on Tuesday night as they entered the Puerta del Sol, one of the city's main plazas.

Demonstrators throw stones at the police riots during the coal miners's march to the Minister of Industry building in Madrid, on July 11. Coal miners angered by huge cuts in subsidies converged on Madrid Tuesday for protest rallies after walking nearly three weeks under a blazing sun from the pits where they eke out a living.

Miners sit in front of thousands of supporters as they protest against government austerity measures in Madrid on July 11. Joined by supporters and trade unionists in the capital, the miners rallied noisily at the climax of a 44-day protest against a 60 percent cut in coal subsidies which they say will force mines to close and put many out of work.

Riot police apprehend protestors during a demonstration by Spanish coal miners on July 11, in Madrid, Spain. The miners had marched to Madrid in protest at industry subsidy cuts.

Miners sing as they march along a street after walking for more than 20 days from the northern Asturias and Leon regions, on their way to Puerta del Sol, Madrid's most emblematic square, on the evening of July 10, 2012.

Coal miners march through Madrid on July 10, 2012.

Coal miners walk during the last stage of their "Marcha Negra" (Black March) in Madrid on July 10, 2012.

Thousands of people acclaim coal miners from northern Spain as they rally outside Puerta del Sol in Madrid on July 10, 2012.

People applaud as miners march along a street after walking for more than 20 days, on their way to Puerta del Sol in Madrid on July 10, 2012.

Flames engulf a Spanish miner after he poured gas from a bridge on burning tires and wood to cut off road access during a miner's demonstration inside "Pozo Soton" mine in northern Spain on July 4. No information was available on the condition of the miner.

Coal miners fire handmade rockets during a clash with the Spanish national riot police on July 4 at the "Pozo Soton" mine in northern Spain.

Spanish riot policemen fire tear gas to disperse a miners' demonstration in El Entrego, inside "Pozo Soton" near Langreo, northern Spain on July 4.

A miner kicks a gas canister fired by the Spanish national riot police during the clashes between police and miners inside the "Pozo Soton" coal mine in northern Spain on July 4.

Riot police try to arrest members of the "Stop Deshaucios," Stop Evictions, social movement during a protest to prevent an eviction in Oviedo, northern Spain on June 27, 2012.

Activists from the "Stop Deshaucios," Stop Evictions, social movement throw buckets of water from a balcony to prevent police entry during a forced eviction.

Riot police take cover from water thrown from balconies by protesters of an anti-eviction social movement.

Spanish riot police restrain a member of the "Stop Deshaucios," Stop Evictions, social movement during a protest to prevent an eviction in Oviedo.

Spanish miners burn tires to cut a road during a miner's demonstration in Caborana, near Oviedo, in northern Spain on June 18. Spanish coal miners are staging a nationwide strike action organized by unions against the cash-strapped government's decision to slash subsidies to the sector this year to 111 million euros ($142 million) from 301 million euros last year. Unions argue the subsidy cuts will lead to the closure of Spain's coal mines and the loss of up to 30,000 direct and indirect jobs, since Spanish coal relies on state aid to compete with cheaper imports.

Miners fire handmade rockets at riot police officers as they defend their position after blocking a road in Cinera, near Leon, Spain, on June 19. Striking Spanish coal miners firing homemade rockets and using slingshots have clashed with authorities in northern Spain, driving officers out a town where the miners cut off a highway and railroad service.

Spanish miners throw stones towards Spanish Civil Guards in Cinera, northern Spain on June 19. Spanish coal miners burned tires and blocked roads during a mass strike to protest against subsidy cuts that they say threaten tens of thousands of jobs. Spain's cash-strapped central government has slashed subsidies to the coal sector this year to 111 million euros ($142 million) from 301 million euros last year, part of wide-ranging cuts to lower its deficit.

Boots hang in a changing room in the partially abandoned and closed Santiago mine, as a result of the coal crisis, near Mieres, Oviedo, Spain, June 18.

Rusting mining carts at the Santa Barbara mine, abandoned seventeen years ago because of the coal crisis in the Turon valley, near Oviedo, Spain.

A bushel grows through the rails of the Figaredo mines, abandoned and closed more than five years ago because of the coal crisis in the Turon valley near Oviedo, Spain.

Posters announcing a general strike on the bolted door of a mine company store at the Santa Barbara mine, abandoned seventeen years ago because of the coal crisis in the Turon valley, near Oviedo, Spain.

An empty office is seen at the facilities of the Santa Barbara mine, abandoned seventeen years ago because of the coal crisis in the Turon valley, near Oviedo, Spain.

Dossiers and files are seen in an office at the Santa Barbara mine, abandoned seventeen years ago because of the coal crisis in the Turon valley, near Oviedo, Spain.

Miners clothes hang in a changing room in the partially abandoned and closed Santiago mine, as result of the coal crisis, near Mieres, Oviedo, Spain.

A banner reads in Spanish "No entry, dangerous, industrial facilities are on the point of collapse" is seen at the main entrance of "La Camocha" mine, abandoned five years ago because of the coal crisis in Hueces, near Gijon, Spain.

Miners run from tear gas fired by riot police officers as they try to defend their position inside the mine "El Soton" during clashes in El Entrego near Oviedo, Spain, on June 15. Strikes, road blockades, and mine sit-ins continue as 8,000 mineworkers at over 40 coal mines in northern Spain continue their protests against government action to cut coal subsidies.

Miners run away from tear gas fired by riot police officers, unseen, as they try to defend their position near the mine "El Soton" during clashes in El Entrego near Oviedo, Spain, on June 15.

Coal miners shout slogan against the police as they defend their positions near the mine "El Soton" during clashes in El Entrego near Oviedo, Spain, on June 15.

Coal miners fire a rocket during a clash with Spanish national riot police in the surroundings of the "El Soton" coal mine in El Entrego, near Oviedo, northern Spain on June 15. The miners were protesting against the government's proposal to decrease funding for coal production.

A coal miner use a slingshot in a clash with Spanish national riot police in the surroundings of the "El Soton" coal mine in El Entrego, near Oviedo, northern Spain on June 15. The miners were protesting against the government's proposal to decrease funding for coal production.

Miners fire handmade rockets at riot police officers, unseen, as they defend their positions near the mine "El Soton" during clashes in El Entrego near Oviedo, Spain, on June 15.

Coal miners are seen behind their handmade shields as they defend their position from riot police officers inside the mine "El Soton" during clashes in El Entrego near Oviedo, Spain, on June 15.

Coal miners demonstrate with their lamps lit through the streets of the city of Leon, northern Spain, on June 12, 2012.