General strike called in Spain

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday April 01, 2003 20:20 by Finghin - CWI

Aznar under pressure

Reflecting the massive opposition of Spanish people to the war in Iraq, the UGT - socialist trade union confederation - has called a two-hour general strike on Thursday 10 April.

A furious struggle is taking place in the CCOO – Workers’ Commission - the Communist-led unions, which is officially not supporting the strike. 86% of the Madrid Regional Council of the CCOO has voted to support the strike. Recent polls show 83% wholly opposed to the policy of George Bush’s government. Over 50% support the demand for the resignation of Spanish Prime Minister Aznar.

The crisis facing the Aznar government is shown in his own party - Partido Popular (PP). 13 PP counsellors have resigned from the party in Andalucía in protest at the pro-war position of the government.