Spaniards demonstrate against labour reforms

Tens of thousands of Spaniards marched through the streets of Madrid and 56 other cities on the 19 February 2012 to protest against labour reforms and austerity measures introduced by the centre-right government of Mariano Rajoy, prime minister.

The demonstrations were organised and led by the main trade union groups, Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and the Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT). Union leaders were incensed by legislation to liberalise the inflexible labour market by making it easier and cheaper for companies to sack workers.

The motto of the protests was 'no to the labour reform that is unfair to workers, inefficient for the economy and useless for jobs'.

BBC News, 19.2.12: Huge Spain rallies condemn labour market reforms http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17090994

El País, 19.2.12: Thousands take to streets in protests against government labor reforms http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/02/19/inenglish/1329664883_704076.html

ESO: Background information: Spain plans to shake up labour market http://www.europeansources.info/record/spain-plans-to-shake-up-labour-market/

El País, 20.2.12: PP government defies demonstrators and says it is not for turning http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/02/20/inenglish/1329767543_745786.html

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