Industrial workers heed Spanish strike call, unions say (2nd Lead)

Sep 29, 2010, 12:56 GMT

Madrid - A general strike against labour market reforms attracted what appeared to be a partial following in Spain on Wednesday, affecting industrial rather than service sectors.

Ninety-five per cent of industrial workers joined the strike, sources of the trade union confederation CCOO estimated.

The strike affected especially the car, metal, mining, electronic and fishing industries, according to union sources.

Unions described the strike as a 'success.' It had attracted more support than Spain's previous general strike in 2002, CCOO Secretary General Ignacio Fernandez Toxo said.

Ninety-five per cent of shops, however, remained open, the employers' organization CEOE said.

The government, on its side, said it would not enter a 'war of figures' with unions concerning the backing for the strike.

The strike also affected thousands of holidaymakers. Only about 20 per cent of inter-European flights and 40 per cent of other international flights were due to operate, according to minimum service agreements between unions and the government.

Some 300 of the normally scheduled flights were cancelled or delayed during the morning, the airport managing company AENA said.

Around a quarter of local trains and 20 per cent of high-speed trains were due to run under the minimum service agreements. Labour Minister Celestino Corbacho said the services were being provided as agreed.

The Madrid regional authorities said 75 per cent of underground trains were circulating normally. Buses, however, were scarce in the capital.

Pickets blocked entry into factories and markets in different localities. At least 15 people were reported injured in clashes or incidents with police. Several union activists were also hit accidentally by cars.

At least 11 people were detained on charges including street violence, resisting police or painting slogans in public places.

Union representatives accused police of 'brutal' action such as firing in the air.

The general strike is the seventh since Spain became a democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, and the first faced by Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero since he took power in 2004.

The strike is in reaction to a labour reform making firing workers cheaper and easier, as well as other liberal reforms.

The global crisis and the collapse of Spain's construction sector plunged the country into a deep recession, raising concern over its economic stability, and forcing Zapatero to undertake reforms requested by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Measures most opposed by unions include social spending cuts and plans to raise retirement age.

The government is trying to trim Spain's budget deficit of 11.2 per cent - far above the EU limit of 3 per cent - and the 20 per cent unemployment rate, which is the highest in Western Europe.

Zapatero pledged to seek 'channels' of dialogue with unions after the strike.

But the government would maintain the core of its economic reforms, Economy Minister Elena Salgado said, pointing out that the reforms had been approved by parliament.