General strike to hit Mallorca this Thursday
General strike expected to be one of the biggest in the countries history
The nationwide general strike is due to take place this Thursday as Spanish workers and unions protest against what are seen as unfair labour reforms. Rallies have already taken place across the country after the proposed reforms were announced by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on February 11th this year.
Spain currently has the highest unemployment in the civilised world with nearly 23% of the population unemployed and almost half of the population under 25 years old out of work. The government hopes that the reforms will boost the economy and help create jobs but protesters say that the reforms will make it easier for employers to fire workers. The new reforms allow employers to cut severance pay from 43 days to 33 days for each year worked with a cap at 24 years and make it easier for companies to opt out of country-wide and union collective wage agreements.
"The reform is only going to make it cheaper to fire people and will give more power to the bosses. It's just going to make things worse." said government worker Iker Rodriguez.
As well as the labour reforms the government also wants to cut public sector spending by 8.9 billion Euros, freeze public sector wages and increase taxes on saving and property in an attempt to raise and additional 6.3 billion Euros.
With the whole country set to strike this Thursday public services will be disrupted but there are minimum levels, set by law, that must continue.The two main union bodies in Spain, the CCOO and the UGT, have submitted proposals to the Ministry of Public works detailing the mimimum services that will be available.
Rail services will be running at 30% during the rush hour and 25% for the rest of the day. 10% of mainland flights will be operational as will 50% of services connecting the Islands to the penninsula and 20% of flights to principal European capitals.
The Unions are convinced the strikes will be "historic". "This is not just about the workers," said Katiana Vicens, Secretary General of the CCOO general workers commision. "this strike is about our rights and we're confident that next week, the strike will be backed by millions of people who are worried about the present and their future."
At the moment the strike is only due to last one day, Thursday 29th, but the unions are demanding the reforms be amended, threatening more strikes and a longer battle with the government if they are not. "If the government doesn't fix this, there will be a fight and it won't end on the 29th" said Ignacio Fernandez Toxo the CCOO's secretary general.
With the tourist season looming Majorca will be waiting for the outcome of the general strikes with nervous anticipation. Hopefully an agreement can be reached soon and full services will return to the island.
