Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/727/14900
From The Socialist newspaper, 18 July 2012
Spain: Class struggle erupts
After marching for 19 days striking coal miners from Asturias and Leon arrived in Madrid on 11 July to demand that the right wing Popular Party government of prime minister Mariano Rajoy reverses his decision to slash subsidies to the industry and protect jobs. On arriving, the miners were greeted by thousands of supporters, trade unionists and anti-austerity protesters. True to form, Spanish police attacked the rally firing rubber bullets and making arrests.
Last month Rajoy boasted that the European Union bailout of Spain's banks meant avoiding making further budget cuts to the economy. However, in a volte face he announced to parliament a new raft of austerity measures and tax increases amounting to €65 billion. This included ending the Christmas pay bonus to civil servants, whose main trade union threatened strike action.
Unemployment is already at 25% (over 50% youth unemployment) and one in four Spaniards have been pushed into poverty by the recession and cutbacks.
The depth of the economic crisis has ushered in the most intense period of working class struggle in recent months. The bank bailouts and austerity measures will do nothing to solve the problems of Spanish capitalism. On the contrary, they can only deepen the recession.
Only a working class government, on the basis of socialist policies, is capable of charting a way out of this impasse.
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In The Socialist 18 July 2012:
Socialist Party news and analysis
March and strike against austerity
Miliband and Labour - no real alternative to Con-Dems
Tories stick the boot in on care funding
Oppose the closure of the Independent Living Fund
Witch-hunting Unison leadership "shabby" declares judge
Wales NHS - Reject the Case for Cuts report
Socialist Party workplace news
Support striking Remploy workers!
RMT cleaners Trans-Pennine Express strike
Fighting against exploitation of seafarers and port workers
2012 London Olympics
Olympics: The greatest sporting, and money-making, show on earth
Olympics G4S scandal shows failure of privatisation
Bosses bank in on corporate olympics - we get austerity!
Teachers fight school privatisation
Top-up fees: £50,000 debt leads to to 50,000 less students
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Southampton: two Labour councillors vote against Labour council cuts
Bristol protests counter racist EDL
Tolpuddle festival shows fightback needed today
International socialist news and analysis
Brazil: 'Miracle' economy slows
Solidarity picket of Turkish Airlines
Reviews and comments
Review: BBC TV documentary "When I get older"
Music review: Long live the struggle by The King Blues
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