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Angry Poles stage mass protest against government labor policies

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Thousands of people have taken to the streets in the Polish capital Warsaw to protest against the government’s labor and pension policies.

Burning tires and beating drums, Polish union members gathered outside the main ministries on Wednesday before marching toward the parliament building.

The municipality said the protesters numbered 15,000, but organizers estimated some 23,000 attended the mass protest at the start of the four-day demonstration.

The protesters called for the resignation of the government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose term will expire in 2015.

They demanded a higher minimum wage as well as a lower retirement age, which the government has raised to 67.

The demonstrators also voiced anger over low job security in the European Union member state and accused Tusk of ignoring their demands and refusing to engage in dialogue.

Meanwhile, some 600 demonstrators camped in front of the parliament.

Protest organizers said the activists plan to stay there through Saturday, when the unions expect 100,000 people.

Europe was hit by a financial crisis in early 2008. The worsening debt crisis has forced the EU governments to adopt harsh austerity measures and tough economic reforms, which have triggered incidents of social unrest and massive protests in their countries.

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