Thousands of rubbish collectors go on strike in Madrid
Unions are calling on the city council – run by ex Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar’s wife Ana Botella – to intervene and stop the job cuts.
Madrid’s street sweepers and public park and garden workers have begun an indefinite strike.
Around 6,000 employees have joined the walk-out after private companies, contracted by Madrid’s city hall planned to slash salaries by up to 40% and lay off more than 1,100 people.
Angel Jornosa, one of the workers whose job is under threat said: “They are going to kick us out with a shameful severance pay. There are people who have worked 28, 30 years.”
City hall worker, Guillermo said “We think it’s enough, this has to end once and for all. Health, education, the city, public services in general have all gone to hell.”
Unions are calling on the city council – run by ex Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar’s wife Ana Botella – to intervene and stop the job cuts.
Elsewhere there was more news of job losses. The Valencian Government closed down public television and radio broadcaster RTVV.
The company had tried to fire 1,000 of its 1,700 workers to keep the broadcaster running. A court ruled it unlawful, prompting the regional government to close the station saying it couldn’t afford to pay them.