MADRID
IN the wake of proposals by Spain's main unions to halt all international flights and long distance train services on 29th September, the day of the General Strike, Central Government has come up with its own list of minimum services which it wants transport workers to adhere to.
The Ministry of Public Works said yesterday that it is proposing that 25 percent of all flights scheduled for that day should operate, including ones with international destinations. The ministry also wants 20 percent of long distance train services to run, including the AVE express, together with between 25 and 30 percent of suburban services.
Representatives of the ministry led by José Blanco were to present the government's position at a meeting held yesterday afternoon with leaders of the main unions, the Workers Commission (CCOO) and the General Workers Union (UGT).
Ministry sources refused to comment on the proposals which had been put forward a day earlier by the unions. They emphasised the good will of the government in wanting to reach agreement over minimum services for the day of the General Strike and said they saw possibilities for the satisfaction of both parties.
The same sources said that the ministry had attempted to put forward what they described as reasonable proposals - ones which honoured both the unions right to strike and the rights of the public who may, for legitimately urgent matters, need to get from one place to another.
The blueprint for the proposals made by both unions and government is not new. Clauses have been used from minimum services agreements drawn up on the occasion of other general strikes, one of which was scheduled to take place on 27th January 1994 and another in June of 2002.
The proposals for the strike of 29th September have been modified to suit current political realities. As an example, the ministry claimed yesterday that there are now more public transport alternatives and a greater movement of people at both a regional, national and international level.