Asturian transport strike

The strike of public transport by road, called for an indefinite period in Asturias by the UGT and CCOO, completely paralyzed passenger traffic (not met in most companies or enacted minimum service) but had only a very partial impact on of goods. The employers' trucks (Asetra, Cesintra and IUF) claimed that the strike had little following among its partners (Asetra and discussed Cesintra total failure of unemployment), but unions warned yesterday that, after a first day indulging trucks, strike will increase in the transport of goods in the coming hours.

The strike is due to a difference of interpretation in the implementation of the wage clause of collective agreement between employers Asetra sector, the one who signed it, and unions.

The unions maintain the strike call initiated yesterday, but continued negotiation. At 21.30 at night, central management and were summoned to another meeting to try to reach agreement on the Service Asturian Extrajudicial Settlement of Disputes (SASEC). According to the secretary general of Transportation UGT Asturias, Florentino Vazquez, the meeting did not occur to no show the majority of the sector employer, Asetra, chaired Ovidio de la Roza.

The employer's argument is that "the scenario has changed" since Monday night, when both sides started the round. From the outset, Asetra desconvocatoria claimed the strike in the industry to sit down and negotiate the demands on wage increases for workers, within the collective agreement 2007-2011. Thus, its board agreed yesterday to "continue as we did yesterday," he said. For its part, the unions were planning to press time, a meeting to coordinate the day today and stop the self-awareness of the goods sector.

Plants remained open Monday through negotiation. For its part, the patron saint of travelers (Astra, Car and Asvipymet) recalled its offer of wage increases in the CPI of 2% plus two points (4%), something opposed by the majority employer, Asetra. According to this organization, the Government has not set an inflation forecast and wage growth attached to a "reliable data" on the CPI. The plants require all employers' recognition of the collective agreement it signed in May 2007 Asetra representing the whole sector.

Last night they held a new negotiating meeting between unions and business organizations in the Asturian Service Extrajudicial Settlement of Disputes (SASEC), but Asetra, employers majority, and the only one who negotiated and negotiated the agreement on the interpretation turns the conflict, decided to not attending, understanding, according to a source that can not be negotiated at the last minute and with little time to the edge and under the pressure of an imminent new round of strikes.

The employers of buses and coaches (Astra, Asvipymet and Car), reported that the passenger sector was hardest hit by the strike despite these business organizations were the only other access to committed to the claim of association (a pay rise 4% this year): "We could not work while cargo is working perfectly normal" reported. Astra, Car Asvipymet and also complained of being "unable to meet the minimum services established by the Directorate General for Transport due to the presence of strikes, sabotage, wheel puncture, breakage of windows, etc..."

According to the Delegation of the government until the late afternoon there had been a broken windshield Luanco school bus and a bus circulating in a convoy escorted to the barracks towards Cabo Noval (Siero) to pick up soldiers who would be moving to Galicia . Also punctured the wheels of seven trucks were cut Villaviciosa and access to industrial parks in central Asturias. Alsa, the largest Spanish firms of coaches, which was scheduled on 25% of their links as minimum services, was forced to stop by the presence of picketing at stations. Many users expressed their distress to be found early in the morning without links to their destinations. There were scenes of anger and sorrow, like a young Spaniard who had to come to a job interview in Aviles, a couple who lost his trip to Madrid in Tacoma had already paid, a woman left without bus service to Santander , attended by the death of a relative, a young man who had to seek alternative means to arrive on time to work in Gijón, etc. They all regretted not having prior information that the strike was to begin after midnight.

Cities such as Oviedo city were without bus service, while unemployment did not affect Gijón, with municipal public transport company, which does not apply the convention industry by having your own.

Mieres, the local bus unit care for drug addicts had to be escorted by a group of riot police and National Emutsa workers (the municipal bus company) expressed their complaint with the attitude of the pickets, integrated mostly, they said, workers in companies Enferbus and Álvarez González, both immersed in a domestic dispute last month and a half. Despite the presence of a picket, truckers who use the Transportation Center of Mieres chose ignore their warnings, creating moments of tension, reports David MOUNTAINEER.

The school bus could not go on the road. According to the Government of Asturias, unemployment affected about 8,300 primary school students (60% of routes), although most of the school, officials said, made it to school by private transport or other means.

The passenger claimed three employers 'urgent action' of the Asturian Government "to stop the serious situation being experienced by the sector."

The road transport strike, which began yesterday in Asturias, managed to completely paralyze the passenger service (buses and buses) but not the freight (trucks). Trade unions today would extend the truckers widespread unemployment, although independent carriers say they will not let coerce. The tension, therefore, may increase. Last night negotiations failed an attempt to find a solution. The employer did not attend.

Asetra transport employers and trade unions CCOO and UGT reconvened at 21.30 am today the negotiations after the first day of strike that virtually paralyzed the transportation of passengers by road and had less impact on the goods, as confirmed to Europa Press union sources.

The unions were invited to a meeting at the Sasec past 20 hours when they were in a meeting to evaluate the first day of unemployment motivated by differences regarding the salary increase. The unions claim the CPI two percent plus two points while Asetra disagrees with the implementation of the IPC.

The road transport employers have shown, however, willing to raise the 4 percent demanded by unions to prevent unemployment, something that has not been possible. The patron saint of travelers today appealed Asetra responsibility to try to reach an agreement and avoid the damaging consequences the strike would bring to the sector.

In fact, transport companies reported on the day's failure to meet minimum service and breaking windows and punctures in the vehicles. During the day today is not normally possible to provide school bus service that was paralyzed by 60 percent.