Spanish PM Gonzales: not speedy enough to escape union fightback In the aftermath of the Spanish general strike, JOAQUIN NIETO, a leader of the CCOO union federation explained what was behind the mobilisations. Since 1991 varlous regions of the Spanish state have seen resistance to the govorment seconomic plans. How did the call from the big union federationsUGT and CC0O - come about for the May 28 general strike come about? First there has been mounting discontent in response to the Socialist Government's economic and social policy. Their credibility is fadingThe anger has been expressed in a rise in mobilisations and wage conflicts.
are number or strike days in 1991 was well above the 1990 level, and the first four months of 1992 have seen two or three times as many days lost as the whole of 1991.
The factor which finally set the powder-keg alight was the government's persistence in its anti-worker offensive, despite all the protests. A very tough economic programme is being prepared so that Spain can meet he requirements of Maastricht.
government's 'convergence' savage attack unemploved, the workers and the publicsector as a whole, including a decree sharply reducing unemployment benefits.
The most recent measure announced involves restrictions on the right to strike, in the hope of checking the expression of discontent. The ruling Socialist Party (PSOE) has had te resort to measures reminiscent of France to get Its decree on unemployment passed. The decree was not adopted by the usual parliamentary channels but in the form of a decree decided by the Council of Ministers neither discussed in parliament nor submitted for conThis decretazo is a sign of a very authoritarian way of governing: here in the Spanish state we are highly sensitive to this kind of thing. which reminds us of the dictatorship which used to govern by decree. What is the content of this decree ? The proposal is one that aftects all wage-earners. The plan is to increase the length of time one has to work before becoming entitled to benefits from six months to one year.
Furthermore, the decree reduces the rate of benefit by between 10 per cent and 15 per Here unemployment is the -at 17 per cent or some 2.6 million people who have little social security. More than half of those without work (1.4 million people) get nothing - and this is only officially registered unemployment. Why, after a long period of dragging their feet, have the unlon leaders decided on a general strike? Besides the violence of the government's attacks, the union leaders are also under strong internal pressure.
After the various regional general strikes, rank and file pressure for large-scale action is growing. The union leaders now they have to respond if they are not to lose credibility. Do you expect to see Increasing unity between the UGT and the CCO0? I think we may take unity a step tartner, some or the big gest obstacles between the two confederations have disappeared. The political links have frayed.
The CCOO has simply cut its ties with the Spanish ComUGT is at loggerheads with the PSOE- it seems indeed that the UGT would welcome the defeat of the P'SOE in elections, since this would split the party. What happened on May 287 i some were calls for 24-hour strikes, as was also true for some industrial branches including mines, steel and teachers, with the support of the