Half-hearted

29 September 2010 By Pierre Briancon

Spain has gone on general strike for the first time in eight years. Unions across Europe want a demo in Brussels. But in spite of appearances, opponents don’t seem to expect governments to retreat from austerity. Unemployment, and subdued political opposition, explain why.

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Spain's unions staged their first general strike in 8 years on Sept. 29, in protests against socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero's plans to cut the budget deficit and reform the labour market.

The plans have already been approved by parliament and the government has made it clear it won't backtrack on austerity measures and reforms.

Membership in Spain's unions is just 17 percent of the work force, one of the lowest in Europe. The sectors most affected by the strike were transport and some industrial factories, with most people turning up for work. Schools, banks and shops, including Spain's emblematic department store chaine El Corte Inglés, remained open.

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