Yesterday (Tues) approximately 1,500 people gathered in Madrid to continue the protest against austerity measures announced by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on July 11.

The further pay cuts and tax increases aim to save 65 billion euros over 3 years as part of efforts to lower the deficit. 

Lead by public sector workers including policemen, firefighters, nurses, teachers and civil servants, others joined them in a continuation of the mass demonstrations seen last Wednesday with the miners demonstration. Participants were reportedly shouting and blowing whistles. 

When they arrived outside the budget ministry in central Madrid they were chanting "Hands up, this is a robbery!"  

Among the latest measures is a cut in the Christmas bonus paid to civil servants, which is equivalent to a seven-percent reduction in annual pay.

Ines Cornide, 44, a worker in the justice sector, said:

"They have already lowered and frozen our salary and this is the final blow."

Also proposed is an increase in sales tax and cuts to unemployment benefits, despite Spain's unemployment rate now standing at 24%.

The demonstration on Tuesday came before a planned mass demonstration on July 19 called by the unions.