13 March, 2012Crowds of protesters were in the streets in Spain to protest new labour laws making it easier for employers to get rid of employees and block their demands for wage increases. Union organized demonstrations pave the way to the all-national strike planned for March 29.
SPAIN: On March 11 hundreds of thousands of people came out to the streets in more than 60 cities of Spain to protest against labour reforms and austerity spending cuts proposed by the government. The biggest demonstrations took place in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Valencia.
Organizers of the protests Confederación Sindical de Comisiones Obreras, CC.OO and the Unión General de Trabajadores UGT believe the suggested reforms are directed against the future of the country because they are against both unemployed and employed workers, is discriminatory because it hits the least protected and removes protection from young workers and working mothers.
Also CC.OO and UGT consider the reforms do not encourage economic growth of the country because it entails reduction of wages and worsens working conditions. In addition it undermines social cohesion in the society by victimizing the poorest, whose number has tremendously increased since the start of the economic and financial crisis.
According to the unions the reforms have been suggested without proper prior consultation with social partners and therefore undermine social dialogue and consultation principles.
Spain is hit by one of the largest rates of unemployment in Europe with 23 per cent registered as jobless in 2011.