General strike called for March 29

Union special magazine, this morning

Labour reforms 'suicidal, say unions

SPAIN (Agencies) The two major unions, Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO.) and Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT) yesterday announced they are calling a General Strike on March 29. The date coincides with nationalist unions in the Basque Country and Navarre, as well as being the day before the Budget. The strike is called in protest against the severe labour reform the PP Government has approved unilaterally thanks to its absolute majority in Parliament. The unions call them "the most regressive" since the first elections in democracy, in 1977. They accuse the government of destroying the "social architecture", adding that no government has done so much to break down the rights of workers in such a short time. Far from "correcting the failures of the previous PSOE government," says a joint communiqué, the labour reforms "are suicidal" and might well be unconstitutional. This is the sixth general strike to be held in the democracy that came after the Franco era. It is as well to remember, too, that the last one was called last September but was widely seen a a failure. Also, the unions are heavily subsidised by the government, which has caused much controversy inside and outside of their structure - there have been many complaints about the large salaries paid to many union leaders.