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LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The Portuguese are getting some relief from strikes that disrupted their lives after the country's financial bailout forced authorities to cut pay, pensions and other entitlements.
Official statistics show there were 105 walkouts in the first three months of this year, against 348 in the same period last year.
Figures released Friday by the General Directorate for Employment and Labor Relations show strikes have fallen each year since 2012, the year Portugal slashed spending and increased taxes after needing a 78 billion-euro ($88 billion) international rescue. That year, there were 1,895 strikes. Last year, there were 812.
The center-left government that came to power last November has reversed some of the previous center-right government's money-saving austerity measures, placating labor groups.
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