Thousands of Spanish coal miners clashed with police during a massive rally in Madrid Wednesday over the Spanish government’s decision to cut mining subsidies.

The protesters arrived in the capital city on Wednesday after marching in streets for 18 days in a number of mining towns in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

Coal miners have been protesting for over a month since the Spanish government announced it will slash pit subsidies from 300 million euros to 110 million euros in a bid to reduce government debt and financial deficit.

Meanwhile, in Portugal, thousands of doctors went on strike for a second day in protest of the government’s decision to cut health budgets.