Update on General Strike:Europe too?

MADRID As was announced in October, the two main unions, CC.OO. and UGT, called a General Strike for next Wednesday, November 14. The media has since been finding out who is and who is not coming out. The union system in Spain is complex and dense. Small union groups are affiliated, or not, with one or other of the Big Two, and it requires a great deal of time to make the connections as not all of them reveal their political connections. However, an overview of the situation indicates that the General Strike may not be as general as the unions hope. Several of the larger affiliates have said they are not coming out, including two that group many teachers and civil servants, but not all. So what can we expect?>>>

Confirmed: General Strike on November 14

Pan-European strike threat, as Portugal and other countries' unions agree on date

MADRID The head spokesperson for Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO.), one of the country's two main unions, announced earlier this morning that it had called for a General Strike on Wednesday, November 14. This, he said, would be 'the first Iberian General Strike in history', as unions in Portugal have made the same announcement. There is a distinct possibility that unions in other European countries, such as Italy, Greece and others will follow suit, a possibility that has been on the cards for at least a week. Fernando Lezcano said his union was not afraid of failure because 'there is no other way'. Another CC.OO. leader urged members not to 'be afraid of losing a day's pay', adding that he hoped that the strike would be followed not only by those earning wages and salaries, or the unemployed, but also by anyone who felt the government has gone, and will go, too far with its cutbacks and austerity measures. COMING SOON: SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

Unions warn of new 'mobilisations'

Fernández Toxo, l., and Cándido Méndez

'Spectacular failure of cutbacks policy'

MADRID The leaders of the two main unions, Comisiones Obreras (Ignacio Fernádez Toxo) and Unión General de Trabajadores (Cándido Méndez) warned at a press conference yesterday that they were calling new 'mobilisations' throughout the country because of the failure of the government's economic policy. There was no specific date given but it is idely expected that the demonstrations would probably begin on or about September 15.

Union members 'expropriate' supermarket merchandise to deliver to food banks

The scene at Mercadona, Écija
(Photo: expansion.com)

Mercadona and Carrefour denounce the 'robberies' at their branches · UPDATE below

ANDALUCÍA Members of the Sindicato Andaluz de Trabajadores (SAT, a union) on Monday carried out what one of their leaders has called an 'expropriation' at two supermarkets, Mercadona in Écija, (Prov. of Sevilla) and Carrefour at Arcos de la Frontera, in Cádiz. At Arcos, where the the first 'attack' took place, they loaded some 10 shopping carts with what the same leader called 'basic necessities' such as milk, flour, eggs, oil, rice, beans, etc. They were stopped at the check outs, where by some reports they got into various arguments>>>

National police union calls for urgent measures against innumerable deficiencies

Lorry checking station at Aduana
(Photo: SUP)

LA LÍNEA The National Police union, Sindicato Unificado de Policía (SUP) qualifies the condition of most if not all of the buildings and equipment at the station and at the Gibraltar border as Third World. No wonder. Some 300 officers are stationed here but in a new detailed report, the union insists that not only are the facilities inadequate for the amount of agents using it, but they are also obsolete for the functions they are expected to perform. They are asking either for new premises or at least numerous repairs and renovations to ameliorate the situation. By far the worst facilities are those at the border (see photo), where rust is apparent everywhere, mould and vegetation, too, and frankly alarming, very damp patches close to electricity outlets. At the station in town,>>>

Over half of union executives get paid by private and public companies

Cándido Méndez (l. CC.OO.)
and Fernández Toxo (UGT)

SPAIN The unions have called a General Strike for March 29th, which the centre-Right Government and business oppose almost as a matter of course. Perhaps some of the unions' executives should be counted among them. A recent study revealed that over half the top echelons of both the Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO.) and Unión General the Trabajadores (UGT), the country's two principal unions that house many smaller versions, are members of the Board of Directors of public and private companies. That, and they are present in public organizations as well as on the board of foundations that belong to them or others. Their mere presence on these boards allow them to receive interesting extra pay in the shape of expenses, monies for turning up at meetings and, in some cases, salaries that are supposed to go to the union coffers. The study points out that they are quite at ease working on both sides of the Us/Them fence, alternating their work for the unions and for their business paymasters.>>>

Union denounces San Roque Club catering company

Inside San Roque Club

Workforce unpaid for two months, says union

SAN ROQUE ( Press reports) Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO.) has denounced the situation arising from the labour conflict with Catering Almazara since it took over San Roque Club's restaurant. The union says that the concession began with redundancies for 50% of the workforce and continues because those that remain have not been paid for two months, plus several other things that do not meet agreements made during collective bargaining. Therefore the union has denounced these and other matters to the Labour Inspectorate (Inspección Laboral).

Spanish 'funcionarios' are hampered by a rigid system

SPAIN The word funcionario has its root in the same etymology as 'function'. Well, as most people in Spain will soon tell you (unless they happen to be one), many funcionarios don't function. Covering a multitude of levels and activities, a funcionario is basically a civil servant, a public employee. Spain is awash with them, often because it is very difficult to fire them, no matter how incompetent or uninterested they may be. Or, as the Councillor for the Economy in Catalonia, Andreu Mas-Colell, said recently, "They should be aware of the great privilege the stability of their employment is." What he wants is for those employed by his region, to work 'the same for less' or 'more for the same'. Fat chance, even though Mas-Colell went on to suggest 10 or 15 minutes more. Naturally the mere suggestion provoked spluttering reaction from the unions, who were probably having a coffee break at the time, whatever time it was. But to take this subject somewhat more seriously:>>>

Two separate demos today against unemployment highlight divisions between local unions

ALGECIRAS (Agencies/Photo: illustration only)  Two separate union organizations have called for demonstrations this evening for and against the same things: for employment and against Government cutbacks. Choose sides: on one side are the traditional CCOO (Comisiones Obreras) and UGT (Unión General de Trabajadores), who are accused of being too close to the central government, and on the other side is a local group calling itself Aldepar (Asociación Algecireña de Parados). All three have calledfor a demonstration today at 6.30pm starting out at from different places in Algeciras: the railway station and Avenida Fuerzas Armadas, respectively. The differences of opinion and cross accusations only show that the union movement in Algeciras is divided. Demos and counter-demos are the result - even if these have the same reasons behind them.

Guardia Civil union says they are 'pressured' to increase traffic fines

The Unión de Oficiales de la Guardia Civil Profesional, one of several unions covering the force, says that the Ministry of the Interior, under which they operate, "continues to exert pressure to increase the number of denuncias (i.e. fines)" by creating "a Machiavellic points system that evaluates an officer and influences his or her pay check." The statement comes at a time when thereis an alleged 'down pen strike' by traffic police that has resulted in a decrease in the number of fines emmitted. The union goes on to say that the system could have serious consequences, as the points system fosters an 'anything goes' attitude "in order to protect our measly wages." It adds that>

Spanish air traffic controlers vote for strike

SPAIN
With 92% participation in the vote, Spain's air traffic controllers union, Unión Sindical de Controladores Aéreos (USCA), announced earlier this afternoon that members voted overwhelmingly (98%) to strike. The law gives the union the obligation of 10 days notice to strike, which puts a likely date to after the 15th. Latest news points to August 18th, though this has not yet been confirmed. Minister for Development José Blanco has said that there is a guarantee of 'minimum service', while the Ministry of Defence is 'readying' military controllers to take over 'in special cases'. Union spokesperson, says, "It is not about money, but about working conditions."

Moroccan workers problem highlighted at Unite UK conference

GIBRALTAR
(Gibraltar Chronicle) Delegates attending Unite the Union’s First Policy Conference after the amalgamation between TGWU and Amicus “were perplexed at the discrimination” suffered by Moroccan workers in Gibraltar, local District Officer Charlie Sisarello told the Chronicle yesterday. The local delegation that travelled to Manchester was led by District Officer Charlie Sisarello and included the Coordinator for Equalities Zohra El Gharbaoui and Michael Netto.>

Gibraltar Customs union row

GIBRALTAR

Following the resignation of sixty-five members of the Gibraltar Customs Department from Unite the Union, the union's District Officer, Charles Sisarello declined to make any comments on the subject. The customs officers claim that the union is not representing them adequately, though the staff rejected a 12% pay increase and flexible hours after years of negotiation. They also want to be classed as a law enforcement agency instead of theirpresent status as civil service department. Rumours that the former members of Unite would be moving to a white collar union have not been confirmed.