A one-day strike action took place in Spain on 27 September 2024, led by the CGT trade union federation and multiple other organizations.[1][2]
Demands
The stated reasons for the strike included actions of Israel such as denying the right of return to Palestinians and continued occupation of Palestinian territories; and both inaction and complicity of Spanish institutions, including the national governments, past and present, such as lack of trade sanctions against Israel and allowing continued sales of weapons to Israel.
The communiqué referred to the recognition of Palestine by the Spanish government, but described it as merely a symbolic act meant to temporarily satisfy and "demobilize" supporters of Palestine and delay the "implementation of real measures". The communiqué calls on the Spanish government to cut all diplomatic, commercial and military relations with Israel.[2]
Organizers and supporters
The CGT (General Confederation of Labor) is a trade union federation in Spain that has around 100,000 members. Its views are anarcho-syndicalist.
The CGT called for a general strike and was joined by multiple other organizations including the left-wing student union Sindicato de Estudiantes. Large trade unions UGT and CCOO (about 1 million members each) did not join the strike.[1][2][3]
Tactics
Strike tactics included picketing and street marches.
CGT estimated that around 20,000 people took part in "pickets and actions" during the morning of 27 September 2024.
Street marches took place in various localities across Spain during the afternoon. Those in Barcelona and Madrid were joined by 4500 and 6000 people, respectively, according to the authorities. CGT claimed that the combined number of protesters in all the localities where protests took place was nearly 150,000.[3][1][4]
References
