3 September, 2010In response to labour reforms that open the way to unfair dismissal, unions in Spain call for a general strike on September 29, to coincide with the Europe-wide day of action.
SPAIN: Spanish trade unions, Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and the Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT), two affiliates of the International Metalworkers' Federation, are calling for a general strike on September 29. They agreed to hold this strike to protest against the labour reform approved by the government.
The general strike will express the refusal of workers to accept the policies of social cuts and removal of rights decreed by the Government, under the pretext of "protection" and European guidelines. The labour market reform was approved without the agreement between unions and employers that have been negotiating unsuccessfully in the past two years.
The decision to take strike action was made in June at a meeting of the leadership of the two unions.
The unions report that labour reforms taking place in Spain will allow for the "express" dismissal and termination of contracts, without requiring employers to comply with objective reasons for the dismissals. The changes will also pave the way for lowering of wages as it will be impossible to prevent dismissed workers from being replaced by workers on lower wages.
This national strike coincides with a Europe-wide trade union Day of Action against the excessive austerity measures being pursued by European governments.