Mar 09, 2012
Spain's two main unions, the General Workers Union and the Workers Commissions, have called for a general strike on March 29 to protest the government's austerity push.
The unions' leaders, Ignacio Fernandez Toxo y Candido Mendez, declared their strike "fair and necessary " and told press this morning that Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's labor reforms were "the most regressive in the history of the democracy."
El Pais reports:
From the outset, the unions have opposed the labor reform, which they consider unfair with workers, inefficient to alleviate the economic situation and useless in the face of job creation.
* * *
Spaniards have been hitting the streets by the thousands to protest the Spanish government's austerity reforms, which are making it easier for companies to fire workers.
"Workers who've got jobs now are worried these reforms will make it easy to lose them, and in current conditions, those who don't have work are going to find it impossible to get a job," office worker Manuela Silvela said at a protest against cuts in Spain earlier this month.
The latest unemployment figures from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, show the unemployment rate in Spain the highest in the EU at 23.3%, with the unemployment rate for those under 25 in Spain at a grim 49.9%.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Spain's two main unions, the General Workers Union and the Workers Commissions, have called for a general strike on March 29 to protest the government's austerity push.
The unions' leaders, Ignacio Fernandez Toxo y Candido Mendez, declared their strike "fair and necessary " and told press this morning that Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's labor reforms were "the most regressive in the history of the democracy."
El Pais reports:
From the outset, the unions have opposed the labor reform, which they consider unfair with workers, inefficient to alleviate the economic situation and useless in the face of job creation.
* * *
Spaniards have been hitting the streets by the thousands to protest the Spanish government's austerity reforms, which are making it easier for companies to fire workers.
"Workers who've got jobs now are worried these reforms will make it easy to lose them, and in current conditions, those who don't have work are going to find it impossible to get a job," office worker Manuela Silvela said at a protest against cuts in Spain earlier this month.
The latest unemployment figures from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, show the unemployment rate in Spain the highest in the EU at 23.3%, with the unemployment rate for those under 25 in Spain at a grim 49.9%.
Spain's two main unions, the General Workers Union and the Workers Commissions, have called for a general strike on March 29 to protest the government's austerity push.
The unions' leaders, Ignacio Fernandez Toxo y Candido Mendez, declared their strike "fair and necessary " and told press this morning that Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's labor reforms were "the most regressive in the history of the democracy."
El Pais reports:
From the outset, the unions have opposed the labor reform, which they consider unfair with workers, inefficient to alleviate the economic situation and useless in the face of job creation.
* * *
Spaniards have been hitting the streets by the thousands to protest the Spanish government's austerity reforms, which are making it easier for companies to fire workers.
"Workers who've got jobs now are worried these reforms will make it easy to lose them, and in current conditions, those who don't have work are going to find it impossible to get a job," office worker Manuela Silvela said at a protest against cuts in Spain earlier this month.
The latest unemployment figures from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, show the unemployment rate in Spain the highest in the EU at 23.3%, with the unemployment rate for those under 25 in Spain at a grim 49.9%.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.