Date Published: 19/11/2021
ARCHIVED - Fourth day of strikes in Cadiz continues to cause disruptions
Protesting metal workers march through the streets to the sound of applause, while riot police charge
The demonstrations for the fourth day of the indefinite strike in the metal sector have once again caused chaos in the city and province of Cádiz and police charged at the demonstrators to thwart an attempt to block the 1812 Constitution Bridge.
The pickets have moved around the city in an improvised route after the breakdown of negotiations between employers and unions, who have left the table after a marathon meeting that lasted until the early hours of this morning, Friday November 19.
On the streets of Cádiz capital this morning, striking workers ambled around, receiving applause from passers-by and neighbours from their windows, while police improvised traffic diversions as they followed the procession.
DAY 4 of 20,000 strong all out strike of metal workers in Cadiz, Spain. Huge mass demonstration of workers and supporters: pic.twitter.com/TFnP3CVu6J
— Jorge Martin (@marxistJorge) November 19, 2021
The most tense moment came at around half past ten in the morning. The protest arrived at the Puente de la Constitución de 1812 from the Avenida de Huelva, and found a large Police Intervention Unit blocking the bridge in full riot gear. The riot police made a charge at the crowds to prevent the demonstrators from accessing the roundabout.
In response, the pickets threw some rubbish containers at the Corte Inglés shop. These events led to the temporary closure of the bridge.
En Cádiz hay la tasa de paro más alta del Estado, el paro juvenil más alto de Europa (50%) y más del 40% de los niños está en riesgo de pobreza.
— Mendozasaurus🦕 (@meendooziitaa) November 19, 2021
El problema de Cádiz es la violencia estructural, la violencia de la #HuelgaMetal es autodefensa de clase.pic.twitter.com/N7HUgbamMd
The mayor of Cádiz, known by his nickname Kichi, once again showed his support for the metalworkers, he came out with a megaphone in his hand and said that he supports the workers’ struggle “so that their dignity is not taken away from them”.
“We don’t want slaves, we want workers,” he added.
Strike in Puerto Real
In the town of Puerto Real on the other side of the Bay of Cádiz, a certain calm returned to the industrial estates as the number of workers on the picket lines has been considerably reduced because a large number of them have decided to join the main protests in the capital of Cádiz.
However, at the gates of Airbus, Dragados, Alestis and Navantia Puerto Real, groups of employees are still stationed, who in most cases have sensibly decided not to cut off the accesses with barricades of bonfires.
“We are close to the marshes and the natural park and we don’t want any major damage to be caused by today’s strong easterly wind. We are still here, but without any fire,” they stated.
No strikes in El Puerto de Santa María
The Tecnobahía industrial estate in Puerto dawned without any picket lines today, since the demonstrators have all decided to move to Cádiz to continue the protests in the capital.
Once again, the strike has been observed by practically 100% of the workforce in the metal industry.
Breakdown in negotiations
Employers and unions have once again blamed each other for the failure of the latest round of negotiations, which are being held in Seville. Both parties refuse to budge on their position of using the Consumer Price Index as a base by which to raise salaries over the next few years, with unions demanding that such a measure is necessary but employers maintaining that it is untenable.
Image: @Peykn1212/Twitter
Loading
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox
Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)
OR
you can sign up to our FREE weekly roundup!
Read some of our recent bulletins:
25% Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
(List price 3 months 12 Bulletins)
Read more stories from around Spain:
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268