Spanish unions claim general strike is 'absolutely necessary'

Both the UGT and the CCOO trade unions claim that the planned general strike is the only way that workers can show their disapproval of Zapatero's economic policies, which they say will mean unemployment will continue to rise for longer than predicted.

Both unions are calling for 'the preservation of workers' rights' and 'economic growth' as well as the creation of jobs, and for the current plans to raise state retirement age to 67, freeze pensions and introduce a labour reform, to be scrapped.

It is expected that a general strike will by called by a large cross-section of workers on September 29, and a great number of the unemployed will join them in protest marches in the street.