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General strike will affect transport on 29th September
Representatives of Spain's main unions, (the CCOO & UGT) are to negotiate with the national government what 'minimum services' are to be allowed on the day of the general strike, next Wednesday. They propose that no international flights will be allowed to leave Spain, and only intercontinental flights that took off before the start of the strike will be allowed to land at Spanish airports. No aircrafts will be allowed to use Spanish airspace.
In addition, only one return flight will be allowed between the Balaerics and the Spanish mainland, and one return inter-island flight. Trains and buses will also be disrupted.
The government have countered with their own proposals for 'minimum services'. They wish to operate 25% of national and international flights, 20% of long distance trains, and 25-30% of metropolitan services.
The general strike is a protest at the Spanish government’s austerity measures and changes to the labour employment laws in Spain. Civil servants have already seen their pay cut by 5%, and the regions of Spain have seen their central government funding reduced significantly.
The unions are most upset by the changes to employment rights. Currently, employees are entitled to generous compensation if they are sacked by their employers. This compensation is due to be reduced. Additionally, the unemployed will be required to enroll in training courses after 30 days of being out of work (currently 100 days).
A recent poll in El Pais (one of Spain’s national newspapers) has indicated that only 9% of Spaniards support the strike.
The reforms to Spain’s labour laws are due to be finalized in the Spanish parliament on the 1st October.
