Several European countries have been taking part in co-coordinated strike action which has hit flights and public transport.
Thousands of people are protesting against austerity measures mostly in Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece.
In Madrid riot police stepped in when a railway station was blocked by demonstrators.
Police have also clashed with anti-austerity protesters in Milan and Turin in Italy.
The strikes have been hampering industry across Europe.
Outbreaks of violence
Earlier police swung batons and pushed away hundreds of young protesters to prevent them blocking the nearby Gran Via avenue in the Spanish capital.
Crowds of protesters chanted “Abuse of power” and “More education, fewer police”.
The Spanish government said police arrested 82 protesters across the country and 34 people were wounded including 18 police.
In Italy media said some 20 activists beat a riot police officer with a stick and baseball bats in Turin while 5 officers were hurt during running street battles in central Milan.
Reporter Robert Nisbet is in the Spanish capital Madrid where there have been a series of walkouts.
