Round Town: Local News Benidorm, Alfaz, Altea.

The leader of one of Spain’s largest unions, Ignacio Fernandez, of the CCOO union, has hit out at the Governments austerity measures which include making it easier for companies to hire and fire workers leading to the introduction of “precarious” contracts.

Up until recently the prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of the left leaning PSOE government had enjoyed excellent relations with the unions, however due to the country’s appalling economic situation plus almost 5 million unemployed; the PSOE government has had to make drastic cuts across the board in order to save the country from a Greek style meltdown.

Recently the country’s credit rating was downgraded by Fitch the international credit agency to that of an AA+ rating, down from a healthy AAA. Spain is Europe’s fourth largest economy. Spaniards recently had a VAT rise of 2 per cent, while the government has warned that growth will be slow in 2011, from 1.8 per cent to 1.3 per cent because of the austerity programme.

The strike will of course affect the country in many ways and it is estimated that public transport will be severely hit, including airports.

One consequence of the strike is the postponement of the much anticipated U2 concert in Seville which has now been switched to the following day. U2 stated that ‘in the past any general strike has been known to affect security services, public transportation, cleaning as well as medical and hospital services which are all integral to the running of the concert. As a result, the promoters cannot guarantee U2 fans will have the best possible experience at the Seville concert and for this reason the show has been cancelled”. However tickets are of course still valid for the following day’s concert which will take place at the city’s Olympic stadium.

The last general strike took place way back in 1988 and some of you may remember that if you were staying in a hotel at that time, that you had to enter the hotels kitchen in order to get your own food!

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