Unions call 11 November strike across Valencian Community

Trade unions and housing groups are calling a general strike across Spain on 11 November, including the Valencian Community, over wages, housing, prices, working hours and public services. Marches are planned in Alicante, Elche, València and Castelló.

Marches across the province

In Alicante province, demonstrations are due to begin at 18:00 in Alicante city and Elche. The Alicante march will start at the steps of IES Jorge Juan; in Elche, it will leave from Plaza de las Chimeneas. Organisers have also called demonstrations in València and Castelló.

The Alicante call is backed by CCOO, UGT, Intersindical, CGT and CNT, alongside tenants’ and housing groups. Organisers say they expect strong participation. CCOO and UGT leaders have also forecast a large turnout nationally and said the actions will be peaceful.

Pay, housing and services

The unions say they want collective bargaining talks unblocked so pay can rise. Their demands also include shorter working hours without loss of pay, limits on essential costs, rent caps and more affordable public housing. They also call for investment in health, education, care and social services, managed directly, and action on waiting lists.

The unions point to housing costs rising faster than wages over the past decade. They also cite third-quarter Labour Force Survey figures for the Valencian Community: employment increased while unemployment and the regional jobless rate also rose. National INE figures show a separate rise in unemployment from the previous quarter; the figures cover different populations and should not be combined.

CCOO says the provincial average wage is nearly €9,000 below the Spanish average and that four in ten provincial wages are below €1,000 a month. Those comparisons were presented by union representatives.

Source: Alicante Plaza; elDiario.es.