MADRID (Reuters) – In a day of demonstrations throughout Spain by the International Labor Day, the two big unions criticized politicians for their inability to avoid the repetition of elections and called for unity on the left to achieve a “government of change” that addresses the problems of citizens.
“I do not know if from a strictly political standpoint we might find some positive aspect to these four months of paralysis and blockages, because from the point of union view has been clearly lost time, where we have missed the opportunity to start solving some of the many and serious problems of the citizens of this country, “said Pepe Alvarez, recently elected secretary general of UGT.
However, workers’ representatives noted that the repetition of general elections on June 26 offers a new opportunity to try to introduce into the pre-election political debate their labor demands.
“the slogan we have chosen for this occasion has to do with what we believe are the fundamental problems affecting the Spanish society and especially the world of work: against wage and social poverty, work and rights, “said the secretary General of CCOO Ignacio Fernandez Toxo.
“to abrogate labor reforms, restore rights and reduce inequalities, it is imperative other government and social mobilization,” said Toxo.
Despite a revival gradual of the Spanish economy in recent quarters, the severe crisis that hit the country between 2008 and 2013 has left behind rates of persistently high unemployment and falling wages, in addition to the hard impact on the working class policies austerity to contain the public deficit.
After closing 2015 at its lowest level in more than four years, the unemployment rate in Spain rose again slightly at the start of 2016, underlining the slow market recovery despite the solid job growth rate of GDP.
the expansion of 3.2 percent of the Spanish economy in 2015 did not serve to significantly reduce the unemployment rate, which takes five and a half years above 20 percent and is the second highest in Europe after Greece.
the two unions blamed much of this situation to the economic policies of the Government of Mariano Rajoy, currently in office, and regretted that after four months of negotiations since the elections on December 20, the left parties have not been able to agree on a “government of change.”
“I want to remind political parties and mainly the leftist forces that there is great expectation, there was much enthusiasm, that can not continue defrauding the thirst for change of citizenship of this country, “Toxo said after the demonstration in Madrid.
” the worst thing is not the repetition of elections, the worst is that other form of government which has run this country in the last four years repeat, it is your obligation to convert the vote (…) in a choice of government, an option for change, “he added.
next week is the deadline for the inauguration of a president and if, as is expected, no candidate, king Philip VI dissolve the Parliament and call for new elections on June 26.
According to a poll published on Sunday, June result could be as inconclusive as December, and could even be greater abstention that benefits the Popular Party, which called for avoid unions.
“Some people wants new elections become a frustration (…) they would like the workers not we participate in elections, (but) must be filled the ballot box of workers to get change things, “Alvarez said at the demonstration in Madrid, in its first Labor Day in front of UGT.
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