Summit braced for chaos as unions strike against Aznar

Date: 20/06/02

By Martin Banks

THIS weekend's EU summit in Seville is braced for chaos as striking workers attempt to bring Spain to a standstill.

In a move timed to cause maximum disruption and embarrassment to the country's centre-right government, unions were due to stage a 24-hour general strike today (20 June) in protest against planned reform of Spain's labour laws.

Hundreds of officials, delegates and journalists were faced with uncertain travel arrangements ahead of the two-day summit, which is supposed to be a showpiece for José María Aznar's EU presidency.

However, heads of government and ministers should not be affected. Rather than using Seville, their executive planes will land at nearby Morón de la Frontera military airbase.

Spanish presidency officials had been advising everyone else to get to the summit a day early. However, that option was further complicated by a European air traffic controllers' strike.

The stoppage, in protest at plans to privatise Europe's air traffic services, coincided with a meeting of EU transport ministers. The two strikes were predicted to cause 'total paralysis' and create a major headache for the summit organisers and 6,000 police, already on alert for terrorist attacks and anti-globalisation protests.

The Brussels-based World Confederation of Labour said it 'totally' supported the general strike. Spokesman Mathieu Debroux said: 'It is necessary to ensure that social justice is a reality, not an empty word.'

A spokesman for the European Metalworkers' Federation described Aznar's labour reforms as 'irresponsible'.

The general strike, the first since 1994, brings a sour conclusion to Spain's six-month EU presidency. Aznar has called the action an insult and a threat to Spanish society.

Unions have accused him of apeing former UK premier Margaret Thatcher, who outlawed 'wildcat' strikes and imposed tougher rules on union funding. 'He is trying to do what she tried 20 years ago, win the class war,' said one union official.

Unemployment in Spain is up by 7.5 on last year and the government wants to trim benefit payments. The move, however, has angered even traditional allies of Aznar's Popular Party who have denounced the government as 'authoritarian and arrogant'.

The European Council in Seville is likely to be affected by a general strike planned for 20 June 2002 in protest against planned reform of Spain's labour laws.