SPAIN: Spanish state employees call in for a strike

Record ID: 339230

  • Title: SPAIN: Spanish state employees call in for a strike
  • Date: 9th June 2010
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (JUNE 08, 2010) (REUTERS) BBVA BUILDING AT NUEVOS MINISTERIOS / SPANISH UNIONS, COMISIONES OBRERAS (CCOO) MEMBERS ARRIVING TO MAIN ENTRANCE VARIOUS OF PUBLIC WORKERS MARCHING STRIKERS IN FRONT OF PUBLIC WORKS, LABOUR AND AGRICULTURE MINISTRIES BANNER READING: "DIGNITY TO THE STATE WORKER" PROTESTER STICKING BANNER TO CAR PROTESTERS HORNING PROTESTERS
  • Embargoed: 24th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Employment,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5ZH7U3EBIZ4JHS6AQTS2Q8WZP
  • Story Text: Spanish public sector workers blocked the entrances to some of the main ministries in Madrid early on Tuesday (June 8) to call for strike against salary cuts.
    Around 2.5 million state employees are expected to protest against a 5 percent salary cut announced by the Spanish government for 2010 and a further pay freeze announced for 2011.
    The move has been badly received by the two main Spanish Unions, Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and Union General de Trabajadores (UGT), who have called education, health and justice state workers for strike and a demonstration later in the evening under the slogan "8-J. Public services strike. Move. No to salary and social cuts".
    People with badges, flags, information leaflets and big banners stood in front of the Ministry of Public Works, the Labour Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry providing information to non-strikers on their way to work before they let them pass.
    "We're here today to support this cause, because we think it is fair cause because cutting the salaries of the state workers is sad and shouldn´t be allowed in this democratic society in which the crisis created by some people is paid by others," Antonio told Reuters.
    "They are cheating us, they are taking our salaries from us. Our job cannot be considered as less worth. The public services are indispensable and thanks to them we have a wellness state. We're moving to a worse (situation) now," Susana agreed.
    Spain is intended to reduce the budget deficit to 9.3 percent of gross domestic product this year, from 11.2 percent in 2009, 6 percent in 2011 and the 3 percent limit stipulated by European rules by 2013.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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