Thousands join Hungary public workers' union strike

Some 7,500 public employees have joined Thursday's nationwide strike organised by the union of public service workers (MKKSZ), the head of the union said in Budapest. Launching the strike at a meeting of the local council apparatus of Budapest's 15th district, Erzsebet Boros said it was important for society that the "workers comprising the driving force of the country" exercise their democratic rights. Among the union's goals, she said, was to call the government's attention to the fact that the base salaries of civil servants have stagnated for 11 years.