Over 4,000 in International Workers' Day protests to demand better salaries

Over 4,000 people took to the streets on Monday in Catalonia's main cities in order to mark the International Workers' Day, to demand better salaries.

In Barcelona, around 2,000 people according to the local police – 5,000 according to organizers – took to the streets, and unions especially demanded pay rises, given that according to them, the cost of living is growing in a faster way than wages.

The protest was called by Comissions Obreres (CCOO) and UGT unions under the motto 'Increase salaries, share the profits,' in a call on employers to share the money they make – another union, Intersindical, organized their own rally.

"We have to achieve for employers to pay," said UGT's head, Camil Ros. "Raising salaries helps the country's economy."

"Where are the unions? They are supporting each of the 230,000 new permanent contracts in Catalonia, the 8% increase in unemployment benefit and each pay slip reading €1,080 monthly," said CCOO secretary general, Javier Pacheco.

Last year, the Spanish congress approved a labor reform that restricted non-permanent contracts, and this year an increase of the minimum rise to €1080 in 14 installments, which amounts €15,120 over the year.

Similar protests were held in cities such as Girona, with 1,000 attendees, and Lleida and Tarragona, with some hundreds in each of these municipalities.