Jim H.
Since 8 June, miners in the northern Asturias region of Spain have been waging a determined general strike to prevent the loss of 40,000 jobs in the mines and related industries. This may well prove to be a milestone in the Spain’s economic and political future.
The background to the strike is the intention of the government to close down many of the state owned and subsidised coal mines. Asturias is heavily dependent on these mines and their closure by 2014, without any further policy for a sustainable local economy, spells devastation. It has given rise to massive opposition. The closures are seen as part of the broader battle against austerity measures, aiming to impose the burden of the economic crisis in the backs of working people.
The end of subsidies to the mines is part of the 27 billion Euro cut announced in the April budget that includes the slashing of 2.2 billion from education, 3.9 billion Euros from health and 1.2 billion Euros from employment programs.
There have been a number of sit-ins at mines (Candin, Langredo and Aller), a series of militant rallies and a camp has been set up in front of the congress building in Oviedo, the regional capital. Miners have been met by riot police using tear gas, baton charges and rubber bullets. Ingenious ways have been devised to fight back, including the creative use of home made rockets (below). Popular support for the miners continues to rise. Growing support is coming in from miners in other countries, including British miners, who had experienced their own epic battle in the 1970’s.
The reactionary Rajoy Popular Party government is in a difficult place. It came into office by default at the end of last year, after the collapse of the support base of the mis-named Socialist Worker’s Party government. The main reason for this collapse was the pro European imperialist austerity measures it had tried to impose over Spain
Scores of miners have been arrested. Police have entered villages. But this has failed to slow down their determination to fight on until victory. Barricades have been set up across major roads and railway lines.
Regional governments, faced with cuts to their funding of 17 billion Euros (and the responsibility for many services) are bitterly opposed to the central government’s plans.
A massive general strike on March 29 against the reform of the labour laws was supported by nearly 80% of the workforce. On May 22, virtually all schools, colleges and universities were shut down with huge demonstrations of workers, students and schoolchildren in all the main cities. Transport workers in Asturias and neighboring Leon (where miners are also on strike) who have had a wage freeze and and 300 extra hours of work a year imposed on them, have now joined the miners’ general strike. Shop owners across Asturias closed their doors on 20 June in a show of support for the miners.
This is truly an epic battle that will have far reaching repercussions. It grabs the attention of the world.
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