Metro stop
Source: Andrea Ferrario on Unsplash
Strike shuts down Madrid's metro
Employees of Madrid's metro have been striking for a second day in a three-day protest against austerity measures.After a partial strike on Monday, no metro trains were running on Tuesday.
More than two million people use Madrid's metro daily, and the strike caused chaos for commuters.
Trade unions in Spain have called a general strike for 29 September in protest against spending cuts and labour market reforms.
The metro workers are striking against a cut of about 5% in public sector wages that is part of a broader package of austerity measures.
The Spanish government is trying to reduce the country's budget deficit, which is currently running at more than 11% of GDP - far above the 3% limit imposed by the EU.
The strike was the first time in nearly 20 years that the entire metro system had been halted by industrial action, according to local media reports.
Madrid's regional government has warned that the failure to provide even a minimum service on the metro is illegal, but unions have been defiant, saying the strike will continue for a third day.
Do you think that underground workers have the right to strike? Do you sympathize with them?
Were you affected by the strike?
Comments
You wrote this post in 2010, from BBC News, but it´s completely actual. In my opinion, these people made advantage of the public transport to get personal benefits. Mostly employees of Madrid´s metro reclaim betterment salary, but it doesn´t matter, they can reclaim because it´s drought, like Extinction Rebellion protesters of the last post. There is always an excuse.
Everyone suffers this strike because the public transport is elemental thing in a bit city for everybody, not only for commuters. The strike Madrid´s metro causes that people like me had to go to work by car, increasing pollution and spending petrol. If they were working in a private company, they didn´t do any strike. I´m sure.
I think that underground workers have the right to strike. Absolutely. In this century who can say that people don´t have the right to strike. Anyway, everyone has the right to commute. Absolutely too. Then should there be a way to everyone could realise his right.
I don´t sympathize with them. It´s clear. I think this company, Madrid´s metro, should be managed by consumers. At least, when employees of Madrid´s metro are going to organize strikes two million consumers should be heard, because this situation is unfair.
See you.
State workers criticise those in the private sector and vice versa.
In the case of those who work in transport - they often go on strike when it can cause disruption to the maximum number of people. I wonder who will go on strike over the Christmas holidays.
You wrote this post in 2010, from BBC News, but it´s completely up to date. In my opinion, these people took advantage of public transport to get personal benefits. Most employees of Madrid metro want better wages, but it doesn´t matter, they can complain because it´s drought, like Extinction Rebellion protesters of the last post. There is always an excuse. (Not sure what you mean here)
Everyone suffers because of this strike because the public transport is essential in a bit city for everybody, not only for commuters. The strike at Madrid metro means that people like me had to go to work by car, increasing pollution and spending petrol. If they were working in a private company, they wouldn't go on strike. I´m sure.
I think that underground workers have the right to strike. Absolutely. In this century who can say that people don´t have the right to strike. Anyway, everyone has the right to commute. Absolutely too. Then there should be a way so that everyone has rights.