Spanish Unions Demand 7% Minimum Wage Rise to €1,306, Set General Strike for November 11
商界反应负面：加泰罗尼亚企业组织的负责人称这一要求是"噱头"，农业协会 Asaja 的负责人则称其为"彻头彻尾的荒谬"。Spain's two main trade unions, UGT and CCOO, will ask the government for a 7% increase in the minimum wage to €1,306, The Corner reported on October 14. The increase represents an extra €85 per month for the paychecks of more than 2.5 million workers.
The demand was announced on Tuesday by UGT Secretary-General Pepe Álvarez during a joint press conference with CCOO to introduce the general strike called for next November 11.Álvarez indicated that both organizations will submit their proposed minimum wage update for next year to the government.
Álvarez explained that the proposal accounts for the approximately 2% gap between the 3.1%minimum wage hike implemented in February of this year and the path of the Consumer Price Index, which stands at 4.9% so far this year. Back in July, both unions had already suggested reviewing the amount due to the disparity between inflation levels when the increase was approved and subsequent price trends. For his part, the leader of CCOO warned that wage increases cannot offset soaring housing costs, estimated at a 12% rise over the past year.
The request was dubbed a "gimmick" by the president of the Catalan business organization, and an "absolute absurdity" by the head of the agrarian association Asaja.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 马德里服务业工人抗议活动（资料图）。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，OsvaldoGago（www.fotografar.net） 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0 授权
