EIGHT Brazilian trade union federations led a general strike yesterday in protest at unelected President Michel Temer’s austerity “reforms.”

Protests were held in at least 19 of Brazil’s 26 states against congressional Bill PEC 241, which will freeze public spending for the next 20 years.

Main union federation the Unified Workers Central (CUT) — allied to the Workers Party (PT) — and the smaller CGTB and CTB were among the organisations leading the national walkout.