The recent day of strike in a Cantabrian chemical company has once again highlighted a reality of the Spanish union panorama: Striking is not a right that is exercised equally in all sectors and regionsWorkers in the industry, located in the north of the country, have taken to the streets to demand improvements in safety measures after several worrying incidents.
The strike has strong support from workers, which is not surprising in a region with a strong “strike culture.” Just two kilometers from the company, In the Basque Country, 10 out of 100 workers went on strike last yeardemonstrating that mobilization is a common tool in the Northern industry.
However, The situation is changing radically in the south and in sectors such as cleaning and hospitality.. Silvia, a cleaning worker, says how difficult it is to organize for fear of reprisals: “I know they are not giving me my rights, but I cannot afford not to provide a plate of food for my children,” she says. In addition, she mentions that the strike represents a significant loss of wages in a sector where the wage bill is already very low.
This situation contrasts with that of industrial sector, where there are 13 strikers per 1,000 workers, while in the hotel industry this figure falls to two per 1,000“A waiter with 1,200 euros has a hard time going on strike for five days,” says a UGT representative in Seville. The fear of losing one’s job and the difficulty of maintaining a prolonged strike are major obstacles in these sectors.
The unions also point out that Union presence and company size are determining factorsIn the public sector, where union presence and job stability are greater, there are 46 strikers per 1,000 workers, while in the private sector this figure is reduced to two, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
