Palma.The proposed series of drastic cuts the Balearic government is going to have to make to reduce the region's historic deficit has set alarm bells ringing in the public sector.
Yesterday, less than 24 hours after Balearic President, Jose Ramon Bauzá, went public with the true extent of the debt left behind by the former Socialist-led coalition, unions mounted a protest outside his office in the Consolat de Mar.
Despite the local government having been given six months by Madrid to draw up its debt-busting plan, there are growing concerns over how Bauzá intends to meet Madrid's goals.
Rumours are rife that there will be cuts to the local health service, with casualty units at PAC clinics being closed down.
And, the government has already said that the Manacor to Arta rail project is to be shelved because of the lack of funds to complete it.
Bauzá has got to reduce public spending by 380 million euros this year and local unionists want to know exactly what his plans are and they want to be consulted throughout the process.
There is currently a serious lack of consensus between the government and unions, Miguel Angel Romero of UGT General Worker's Union said yesterday.
We don't believe that slashing 100 million euros off spending will not affect basic public services because the Balearic health service is already bankrupt, he added.
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