Britain's biggest trade union, Unite, is calling for a 24-hour general strike against austerity measures.
The TUC voted to examine the feasibility of holding a general strike last year.
On Wednesday, the first general strike has been called since Antonis Samaras became prime minister.
He has cut civil-service pay by 5%, raised VAT and ridden out a general strike.
The prime minister, the chancellor and others condemn talk of a general strike as futile and irresponsible.
The latest general strike is the 30th in Greece since the economic crisis began three years ago.
The country's largest trade union, the General Union of Tunisian Workers, called a general strike for Friday.
On July 8th-9th trade unions staged a general strike, claiming the government had reneged on various promises.
And on Wednesday the 14th, a general strike in Spain and Portugal is likely to reverberate across Europe.
FORBES: Where Is The Occupy Movement in The Week of The General Strike?
Meanwhile, the first general strike by Tunisia's trade unions in three decades closed shops, cafes and other businesses Friday.
Trade unions in Peru held a general strike against President Alberto Fujimori's plans to run for a third term.
Italy's three main labour groups jointly declared a general strike for next month.
Eight months later came the general strike, which also failed to shift him.
As I write, about 80 people have been arrested on the streets of Madrid, as the general strike hots up.
And though the TUC voted for a campaign on pay, it rejected a firebrand amendment calling for a general strike.
ECONOMIST: The trade unions are not as fearsome as they look
Mr McCluskey also played down talk of a general strike before a debate on the issue by TUC members on Wednesday.
So in the week of a general strike that will be witnessed around the world what do you make of it?
FORBES: Where Is The Occupy Movement in The Week of The General Strike?
The country's second-biggest union, Unison, which has 1.3 million members, says it supports the idea of a general strike "in principle".
The French government raised wages for the low-paid, a key demand of the protestors, who ended a general strike in March.
The country is showing signs of a wage-price spiral, with annual inflation touching 26%, labour unrest and a threatened general strike.
About an equal number of protestors marched nearby in Oakland, Calif. as part of a daylong general strike called by Occupy Oakland.
Meanwhile unions held a nationwide general strike - Greece's third this year.
Tens of thousands of Greeks are taking part in the first general strike of 2013, as workers renew their protest over austerity measures.
Trade unions and taxi-drivers, who owe their licences to the Fatah-dominated intelligence services, declared a general strike and closed roads, paralysing city centres.
In 1926 when the country was riven by the General Strike, Churchill wanted to take over the BBC as an instrument of propaganda.
Every shop is shuttered, some out of fear, others because the shopkeepers association declared a three-hour shutdown as part of today's general strike.
BBC: Greek state starting to lose grip on functions of state
Already Mr Kim has faced down the leaders of trade unions who had threatened to organise a general strike in response to threatened layoffs.
They say they have concerns about the legality of holding a general strike, which would need to be overcome before they could support it.
Over the past two days, the whole Kabylie region has ground to a halt following a call for a general strike by local leaders.
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