General strike against austerity measures held 11 days before the Catalan elections

Barcelona (ACN).- The general strike called at European Union level to protest the austerity measures and support a new strategy to deal with the economic crisis will also affect Catalonia. Wednesday’s general strike will be held in the middle of the official electoral campaign, 11 days before the Catalan elections. Unions in Catalonia joined the general strike call despite the fact that it will coincide with the electoral campaign, arguing that the date had been decided at EU level. The Catalan Government and the main unions (CCOO, UGT and USCO) have reached an agreement in order to guarantee the minimum services to be provided. Public transportation will work at 33% of its capacity at rush hours, but not at all for the rest of the day. Emergency rooms will work as normal and hospitals will continue to offer indispensable treatments and practice scheduled surgeries. However, outpatient consultations are not guaranteed as will depend on whether the doctor has gone on strike. Schools will have the presence of a minimum number of teachers guaranteed. For primary schools and kindergartens there will be a minimum of one teacher per every 6 classrooms, supported by a person from the management staff. For nursery schools, a minimum of 33% of the staff will be present, as well as one person from the management staff. Catalan Police will deploy 9,000 officers to avoid any violence during the day of strike.

During the 24 hours of Wednesday’s general strike, public transportation throughout Catalonia will only be guaranteed at rush hours. Public transportation will only work at 33% of its capacity between 6:30 am and 9:30 am, and between 16:30 pm and 20:30 pm. Outside of these time periods, the service is not guaranteed and is likely not to work at all. This measure affects Renfe’s short-distance and regional trains, the short-distance trains run by the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat, Barcelona’s underground network, all the city and inter-urban buses and buses linking Barcelona with El Prat Airport and Barcelona’s tramway.

Basic healthcare services will work as usual

Regarding the healthcare system, emergency rooms and special units will work as normal. The special units mainly involve intensive care, haemodialysis, coronary units, chemotherapy and obstetrics services. Emergency surgery proceedings and pre-scheduled surgeries will also be guaranteed. In addition, patients staying in hospitals will have nursery, accommodation and catering services provided. Furthermore, emergency sanitary transportation, including health material supplies, are also guaranteed. Chemists on duty will be working as usual, and the rest will provide basic service with a minimum number of staff.

Emergency services are guaranteed

Emergency services will be working with at least a minimum number of their staff in order to guarantee normal functioning. These services include fire, police, civil protection and coastguard, as well as maintenance crews for water, gas and power supplies. In addition, social services are also included, such as dining rooms, elderly care homes, day centres, children and youth centres, etc.

Between 17% and 33% teaching staff

Regarding education services, the Catalan Government and the main unions have reached an agreement to have 33% of the staff in early nursery schools (for children between 1 and 3 years old) guaranteed, supported by a person from the management staff. For kindergarten and primary schools, there will be at least one teacher for every 6 classrooms, supported by a person from the management staff.

Courts on duty will be working as usual

In the judicial administration, courts on duty will be working as usual, with all their staff. First instance and investigating courts will have the minimum staff required to follow the civil and penal proceedings. In addition, the judicial services linked with minors will also work as on a regular day. Penitentiary services will work as on a bank holiday.

The rest of the public services will have at least one person from the management staff as well a minimum number of staff members to keep some specific services running, such as document registration, access control and phone switchboards. In addition, the services for filing complaints and managing preclusive deadlines or actions that could seriously affect people’s rights will also be guaranteed, having at least one person on duty.