Catherwood LibraryILR School

Spain?s trade unions will hold the country?s first nationwide general strike in eight years tomorrow on the eve of the European Union summit in Seville, and have announced their intention to ignore President Jose Maria Aznar?s minimum services decree. President Aznar---whose proposed restrictions of unemployment eligibility have occasioned the strike (see WIT for May 24, 2002)---has ordered that forty percent of domestic flights and twenty-five percent of train and bus routes remain in operation on the day of the strike. Although polls indicate that only thirty-three percent of Spanish workers will participate in the strike, a majority of Spaniards surveyed indicated their support for the strike and the unions are refusing to willingly comply with the president?s order and intend to go to the Spanish Supreme Court if necessary.