Strike shuts down Madrid’s metro

The continued strike in Madrid Metro of the drivers disrupted traffic for the second consecutive day in the capital of Spain, causing major traffic jams and congestion also in other modes of public transport. The access line to Madrid-Barajas airport also remained closed. “No trains, is the message engraved on the panel into Ruben Dario metro station in center of Madrid.

Employees protest a reduction of 5 percent of their salary set by the authorities from region of Madrid, which manages the subway, and also the austerity measures.

The regional government has taken disciplinary action against the to 200 employees since it met the requirement to provide mandatory minimum transport rate of 50 percent in case of strike.

Two million daily passengers use the metro in Madrid.

The staff  gathered Wednesday in a general meeting and decided to continue their strike Thursday and Friday, but promised that this time they will ensure minimum service. They determined that they will stop the protest Saturday, Sunday and Monday. They will meet again to decide how to continue the movement, and not excluding the indefinitely strike.

Four subway employees who did not take part in the strike, were injured by about 50 strikers Wednesday while they were going to work, according to the company that manages madrilenian subway.

Authorities in the region led the right plans to hire private buses to compensate for time off work on the 12 subway lines.

Regional Government spokesman, Ignacio Gonzalez acknowledged that “there are no solutions” as long as the unions keep their positions “absolutely radical.”

Central Government Socialist deputy, Maria Teresa de la Vega Fernandez, asked the conservative president of the region, Esperanza Aguirre, to “take responsibility” and to negotiate. Social discontent intensified in Spain because of  adopting austerity measures and reforms on the labor market by the Socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

After a general strike Tuesday in the Basque Country, are provided in all regions rallies Wednesday to call the two main unions, UGT and CCOO, to protest against this reform designed to “revitalize” the labor market in a country where unemployment exceeds 20 percent.

According to the two large central unions, is to “heat engines” with a series of mobilisations against reforms considered “harmful” for employees, before the national general strike that is going to be set on September 29. Trade unions in Spain have called a general strike for 29 September in protest against spending cuts and labour market reforms.

The metro workers are striking against a cut of about 5% in public sector wages that is part of a broader package of austerity measures.

The Spanish government is trying to reduce the country’s budget deficit, which is currently running at more than 11% of GDP – far above the 3% limit imposed by the EU.