Solidarity, up to a point

Commerce, large businesses, education and infrastructure all followed yesterday’s strike with varied mobilisation depending on the sector, with a lower turnout overall to the October 3 strike. Most noticeable were the results in logistics and communications.

The country’s major fresh-food outlet, Mercabarna, reported sales down between 70% and 80% as fruit and vegetables were able to get to the market distributor but with roads blocking the capital, few transporters were willing to take the risk of attempting delivery to the rest of the country. In meat and fish, as well as floristry, the impact was lower.

In retail, most commerce was clearly sympathetic to the motives behind the strike but closure was a different story, especially because, as president of PimeComerç, Àlex Goñi said, “commerce is in the middle of an important crisis and one day lost is never recovered.” Other retail organisations reported that members were less inclined to support a strike with clearly political aims which could result in a detrimental economic impact.

Large companies, such as Nissan, reported fewer problems, most resulting from the delivery of materials and supplies caused by road cuts due to “by coercive acts”, but also reported fewer workers deciding to strike.

The Inter-CSC group of unions which called the strike stated they were more than happy with the mobilisation “ despite the attempt to boycott the strike by the central government”. Inter-CSC also welcomed the large following from public servants, especially in education where primary and secondary schools reporting a 45% stoppage.