STRIKING OUT

THE trade unions are busy writing out their placards and preparing for tomorrow´s general strike but it will be interesting to see how many people actually follow the strike call. It will either be a real show of union power or a reminder of how much power the unions have lost.

I suspect that among civil servants the turnout will be high but I suspect that in the private sector the call will rather fall on deaf ears. Workers in the private sector are more concerned about their job than joining a strike to protest against legislation which has already been passed.

The trade unions called for industrial action to protest against the government´s new labour reforms which include halving the amount employees are paid if they are made redundant. Ten years ago and the Spanish government would have withdrawn the legislation as a result of a wave of protests. But times have changed and union power is not as strong as it was. The fact that the strike has been called now that the legislation has been introduced will probably mean that fewer people than expected will join the strike. But whatever happens it is a clear sign that all is not well in Spain. Prime Minister Zapatero has said that he is willing to negotiate with the unions but after the strike.