Canarian Weekly
16-11-2012, 13:10
MOST of mainland Spain was immobilised on Wednesday as workers stayed away from their jobs, industries ground to a halt and public transport slowed the country down during the second general strike within a year called by the nation’s main labour unions in protest at conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s austerity policies.
Spain’s unemployment rate rose to above 25 percent for the first time on record in the third quarter of this year, and the country is now in its second recession in three years.
But supporters and protesters failed to bring the Canaries to a halt, which had been their intention; it was very much busy as usual with the shops, businesses and airports open, just minimal disruption to schools and road transport.
Some 110 people were arrested acrossSpain. At least 40 others were reported injured, including 18 law enforcement officers. In the capital, a police charge against protestors in Cibeles square left 15 people injured while inValencia10 pickets were arrested and six more protestors were injured later in scuffles with police outside the city’s bull ring. InTarragona, two workers were injured after being hit by trucks at picket lines. One of the drivers was arrested. Also inTarragona, a minor was injured and three more arrested when police attempted to break up a picket outside the El Corte Inglés department store.
InMadrid, a man and a woman detained by security forces were found to be carrying explosive equipment, including gasoline, nails and a large firework. InAsturias, a rocket fired at a Guardia Civil van caused its inhabitants to evacuate suffering from smoke inhalation.
It’s difficult to put a figure on the number of workers that indeed participated, but unions said the strike was a 100-percent success at all ports, which were shut down shortly after midnight on Tuesday. The metals, automotive and construction industries also reported high absenteeism, the unions said.
“The stoppage in industry is practically complete although there have been minor exceptions at the Renault and Citroën factories,” said UGT communications secretary José Javier Cubillo.
However, electricity consumption indicated that the participation rate in the stoppage was lower than in previous national strikes in March of this year and in September of 2010. According to the national grid operator REE, demand for electricity attributable to productive activity in constant terms indicated that only 60 percent of workers had adhered to the call to lay down tools, compared with 91.8 percent in March.
There are currently 14.23 million salaried workers inSpain.
The protests however appear to have fallen on deaf ears as Rajoy has said that he will not back away from his austerity measures. Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said a general strike “is not the right way to reduce uncertainty.” “We are aware of the problems facing people but the government’s road map is the only possible alternative,” he added.
Some flights to and from major airports, includingMadrid’sBarajasInternationalAirport, suffered delays or cancellations. In all, it was expected that 700 scheduled flights would be cancelled during the day, with 1,344 of the 2,322 flights on airport authority AENA’s log protected under the minimum service agreement. TenerifeAirportappeared to have little disruption.
Some holidaymakers unfortunately were affected. EasyJet cancelled 26 flights, services from Gatwick toBarcelonaandMadrid, and rescheduled 10 others including flights from Gatwick andManchestertoAthens, and from Gatwick to Thessalonika. Iberia Group cancelled more than 350 flights
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/14n-successful/)
Spain’s unemployment rate rose to above 25 percent for the first time on record in the third quarter of this year, and the country is now in its second recession in three years.
But supporters and protesters failed to bring the Canaries to a halt, which had been their intention; it was very much busy as usual with the shops, businesses and airports open, just minimal disruption to schools and road transport.
Some 110 people were arrested acrossSpain. At least 40 others were reported injured, including 18 law enforcement officers. In the capital, a police charge against protestors in Cibeles square left 15 people injured while inValencia10 pickets were arrested and six more protestors were injured later in scuffles with police outside the city’s bull ring. InTarragona, two workers were injured after being hit by trucks at picket lines. One of the drivers was arrested. Also inTarragona, a minor was injured and three more arrested when police attempted to break up a picket outside the El Corte Inglés department store.
InMadrid, a man and a woman detained by security forces were found to be carrying explosive equipment, including gasoline, nails and a large firework. InAsturias, a rocket fired at a Guardia Civil van caused its inhabitants to evacuate suffering from smoke inhalation.
It’s difficult to put a figure on the number of workers that indeed participated, but unions said the strike was a 100-percent success at all ports, which were shut down shortly after midnight on Tuesday. The metals, automotive and construction industries also reported high absenteeism, the unions said.
“The stoppage in industry is practically complete although there have been minor exceptions at the Renault and Citroën factories,” said UGT communications secretary José Javier Cubillo.
However, electricity consumption indicated that the participation rate in the stoppage was lower than in previous national strikes in March of this year and in September of 2010. According to the national grid operator REE, demand for electricity attributable to productive activity in constant terms indicated that only 60 percent of workers had adhered to the call to lay down tools, compared with 91.8 percent in March.
There are currently 14.23 million salaried workers inSpain.
The protests however appear to have fallen on deaf ears as Rajoy has said that he will not back away from his austerity measures. Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said a general strike “is not the right way to reduce uncertainty.” “We are aware of the problems facing people but the government’s road map is the only possible alternative,” he added.
Some flights to and from major airports, includingMadrid’sBarajasInternationalAirport, suffered delays or cancellations. In all, it was expected that 700 scheduled flights would be cancelled during the day, with 1,344 of the 2,322 flights on airport authority AENA’s log protected under the minimum service agreement. TenerifeAirportappeared to have little disruption.
Some holidaymakers unfortunately were affected. EasyJet cancelled 26 flights, services from Gatwick toBarcelonaandMadrid, and rescheduled 10 others including flights from Gatwick andManchestertoAthens, and from Gatwick to Thessalonika. Iberia Group cancelled more than 350 flights
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/14n-successful/)