Spain's Taxi and Restaurant workers to join strike

 

Following last week's announcement by Airport workers unions of 22 days of strikes to be held over Easter and Summer, Spain's tourism industry looks set to suffer further at the hands of another group of workers.

Taxi drivers and bar owners have now joined airport workers in announcing strike dates. to coincide with the strike action.

Almost 2'000 Taxi drivers from the Canary Islands and a number of bar and restaurant owners from the Balearics have announced a 3 day strike to take place between 15th - 17th April - 3 days before the first airport strike date on the 20th.

The taxi drivers are protesting over the increasing number of illegal and unlicensed cabs, limos and mini-buses that are compromising their livelihoods.

Bar and restaurant owners are protesting over the new anti-smoking law, but have as yet not announced a date when any strike action will take place.

Talks between AENA and the Unions, hoping to resolve and differences and halt the strike fell apart on Thursday evening when no agreement could be found.

The airport workers are specifically concerned over the government's plans to privatise 49% of AENA and have concerns that this will result in a change to both their jobs and working conditions.

A number of airlines have appealed for the Spanish government to issue a state of emergency to allow the military to take charge of airspace, with Ryanair confirming that the strike dates over the Easter period alone would result in over 300 flights being cancelled, with disruption for more than 57'000 passengers.