| Spain greets European leaders unkindly Heat, strikes, problems of European integration, anti-globalists - all of this suddenly concentrated in one place and at one time - in Spanish Andalusia. On the eve of today's summit in Seville of 27 European leaders (the EU plus candidate countries), a general strike broke out in Spain, casting a shadow over the country's six-month presidency of the European Union. The strike spread throughout the country, with the exception of the Basque Country, where it took place the day before. (“We have once again shown that we are not part of Spain,” said the leader of one of the local trade unions, José Elorrieta.) The chairman of the Spanish government, José Maria Aznar, is confident that the strike was organized “to annoy the government and harm Spain.” However, according to polls, the majority of Spaniards consider the motives for this kind of protest sufficient.
Either way, it ends six years of peaceful coexistence between Aznar's government and trade unions - the previous four general strikes in post-Franco Spain occurred under the rule of socialist Felipe Gonzalez. The reason for the current strike was the reform of labor legislation. The government says too many Spaniards are choosing to collect unemployment benefits rather than work. According to trade unions, the reform limits the rights of those who have lost their jobs: it reduces the amount of unemployment benefits and makes it difficult to receive it, reduces payments upon dismissal, and obliges them to accept the offered job, even if it is located 30 km from their place of residence. The syndicates called for dialogue, the government approved the reform by decree, avoiding the problematic discussion of the project in parliament.
It is no coincidence that the strike began in Seville: Andalusia is an autonomous region with the highest unemployment rate in Spain, which, in turn, leads in this indicator in the European Union (11.3%). The government by decree established a mandatory 40 percent level of services on the day of the strike (this also applies to TV, radio, transport, etc.). The police ensured that the pickets did not interfere with the normal operation of supermarkets (one policeman died of a heart attack). According to the authorities, the success of the strike was "negligible" and the Spaniards demonstrated a "willingness to work." Trade unions speak of “almost full” participation in the strike. 80% of the employees of the leading Spanish newspaper El Pais joined the strikers, most of the newspapers were published in a shortened form.
So Seville is preparing for the summit against the backdrop of this strike and the strike of European air traffic controllers. The Spanish Secretary of State for Security Pedro Morientes received temporary powers to shoot down any suspicious aircraft in the skies of Spain, six special teams inspected 1000 km of underground communications, nine thousand agents are ready to ensure the safety of distinguished guests. Alamillo Park is ready to host ten thousand anti-globalization guests: on Saturday they will march under the slogan “Against Europe, Capital and War.” A center has also been opened where fighters against capitalism will be detained for violating the order. Andrey ZLOBIN |
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