Canarian unions call general strike on 14 Nov

[Janet]

The ten largest unions in the Canaries agreed yesterday to call a general strike in the islands on 14 November. The decision was confirmed by the secretario general de UGT Canarias, Gustavo Santana, who said that a specifically Canarian strike was chosen "because of the absolute responsibility of the regional Government for its poor economic and political performance over the last few years". St Santana stressed that cuts in the Canaries have been primarily in education, health and social services, and that there was an extremely erratic  policy as far as employment was concerned too, not least to combat the black market economy and fiscal fraud. He stressed the unity of the unions in calling the strike, and said that further details of more specific actions would follow over the coming week or so. JA

[Janet]

This proposed strike now looks like engulfing not only the Canaries, but the whole of Europe. In Spain itself, there is likely to be a general strike, PM Rajoy's second general strike during his premiership. Decisions by the unions will be confirmed over the next few days. JA

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Let me know when somebody calls a strike over the loss of democracy in Europe and rule by Angela Merkel, and I'll join it. 

Rajoy should announce we're leaving the Euro the day before and we can all then party in the streets.

[Guanche]

Slightly off topic, but did anyone read the article in the DM about the rise of 'Golden Dawn' in Greece. Think it was yesterday. Truly frightening, OK it's the DM and we know what there like. But still, a credible political party with 12 MP'S sympathy in the civil police all it needs is a couple of generals and you have all the ingredients for a coup.....or worse!
I don't think Spain has such a radical group, yet.

[Janet]

Yes, and Greece has a history ... a modern history ...

really frightening. Interesting that they refer to "foreigners" when what they really mean - at the moment - is someone of arab or african origin (or appearance). At the moment. How long before it's anyone from anywhere other than Greece?

Greece has always been xenophobic, as were the city states between each other before Philip of Macedon ever made "Greece". Sometimes with reason, admittedly, but ...

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Yes, I read the article in the DM today and was pretty shocked by it.  I had no idea they had gone that far.  Agree with Guanche that you have to take it with a pinch of salt since it is the DM but still, if half of it is true, it is still amazing. 

To be fair to the Greeks, they have been overrun with foreigners as of late, and are very unhappy about it.  They feel it is a European issue with which they should be given help, and that they should not have to shoulder the entire cost of policing their borders.  Still, not sure that placing a telephone call to a magical Golden Dawn number, then waiting a few days for the result, is the way to go. 



Is there any other way of making feelings known to the government besides a national strike?   What do the politicians listen to?

[Janet]

money ... 

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Guess my voice won't be heard then.

[Guanche]

This is the deep divide between sovereign governments and the EU. For years I thought I had a working knowledge of Uk politics They were professional liars and not to be trusted. But in general things trudged on, one step at a time. But in the last few years there seems to have been leaps and bounds on all sorts of things nearly all made by an institution that I basically know nothing about except it's massive.

Now a French MEP or a Romanian MEP can have a vote about what goes on in my country WTF! Ok this is an extreme example. Say the MEP's of France  Portugal Belgium, and some Scandinavian countries (Not sure which are in the EU) sit down with a British MEP to discus fishing quotas. Who do you think is going to get their own way? for sure it won't be the British MEP. Unfortunately British fishermen will have to put up with what a foreigner says and lump it. Not the best example I agree.

I feel this is what a great many people feel. Our future is in the hands of foreign politicians and civil servants from everywhere. Does anyone here know who their MEP is? I have asked a great many Spanish people I know and the general reply is "Whats that" No one could tell me. I have the feeling that it's not much different in the UK.

Ooops I got carried away and forgot what the thread was about back on topic!

[Janet]

Just a reminder that this strike is set for tomorrow, and Union posters have been put up in many places urging workers to comply with the call to stop. Minimum services have been agreed with the Government, indeed, so this is a strike that's going to go ahead. It's unclear at the moment how widespread the action will be, and how great the disruption, but it seems sensible to make every effort to avoid running headlong into problems tomorrow. JA