All for the people, but without the people

Many people is concious about the damage on the earth because the human effect. Everything is crap, and nobody is doing anything to change it.

Environmental damage, animal harm, extintion of species, pollution lead also to a social damage. Chemical products, medicins, food, water affect people´s daily life provoking cancer, malformations, deaaths and so on. However, these are "poor" people who do not have the power to change anything. Big corporations have it, but they create the law according to their vested interests to do legal activities without any public concern. Human rights are violated everyday, laws are transgressed and justice does not solve it,

Capitalism, consumism and lust for power have developed themselves in the deepest economic crisis in years. But it is not only an economic crisis, it is also political, social, and above all, it is a moral worldwide crisis. Who is going to change this, the ones who created it, the ones who gained benefits from it, the millions of unemployers or exploted people...?

The corporation, some of the truths of the world you live in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rue2-g5F82U

All the living beings are being destroyed but the ones who could change it are the ones with power, and honestly I do not think the are willing to do it, people need to take a role in this situation because without us, they are nothing, but if we led them to continue what they are doing, the consequences will be unforeseened for the society.

The "post-sovereign" world: The half-truths and the (crisis of the) Nation-States

II Part- Dissertation

Nationalism inside an existing country usually has two sides to the same story. This topic has several and contradictory interpretation of facts. This dissertation will analyse four aspects of the Spanish reality to make a clearer and more complete picture of the independence of Catalonia.

This sentiment has its foundation in a specific vision of Spanish history. Also, the divergence on the economic issue depends on how they look in the glass. The project will also address the problematic of the sociological aspects will be also explained. And especially, it will assess the importance of the role of the politicians and the interpretations of the events according to their vested interests.

Moreover, this dissertation will evaluate the role of the Nation-States in Europe in connection with independence movements. A wider perspective will be included with the examples of Scotland and Quebec. 

Austerity Measures Are Not the Solution to the EU Debt Crisis

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council at LIMUN 2013 agreed that the Eurozone crisis needs global solutions. Its consequences spread beyond the borders of the EU and affect an interconnected worldwide market. The most likely solution to solve this problem is by global cooperation and trade. Additionally, there is a need for urgent implementation of the fiscal union.

The EU debt crisis is an international concern. As the delegate for China Mattias Verbergt pointed out “it is about all nations fighting against time” to solve a problem that affects everyone. The current financial market is so integrated that all nations feel the economic and financial consequences of the Eurozone. For example, India is a major trading partner of the EU and has been directly affected by the Eurozone crisis.

There are other alternatives

Greece is one of the countries most strongly affected by the crisis. The solution depends on what changes are made to the financial system. The delegate of Greece pointed out that “Alternative solutions have to be explored. Austerity measures will only cause more social unrest”.

Delegate of China

Delegate of China

The delegates from Saudi Arabia and China expressed their concerns on the situation saying that “austerity simply does not work for the EU” and that “these measures are not the only way”. Stimulating measures are necessary to revive the Euro currency.

The United Nations must come up with specific solutions that will not include the disintegration of the single currency. The delegate for Greece explained clearly that the 170% GDP in the country must be addressed, and if not, “Greece will be more like to leave the Eurozone”. Austerity measures have been implemented in Greece without any positive results. However the delegate for Greece acknowledged that “the EU has supported Greece with financial assistance of €34.4bn in the second bailout, and this shows the commitment of the EU for Greece to remain part of the Union”.

More financial investment and integration

The Eurozone is facing a double-dip  recession, where the Southern European countries of Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain are the worst affected. However, there are some positive examples too. The delegate for Italy said that the country won't ask for a bailout from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). The delegate of Germany also stated: “Germany does not believe in the EU failing. We do not support austerity measures only, but we need control and supervision of member countries in order to see growth”.

Delegate of Germany

Delegate of Germany

All countries agreed that international cooperation is needed to face the debt default of the EU, and that protectionism and austerity are not the only solutions. What is needed is more economic and financial integration within the EU and international trading and investments with overseas countries.

Defenders of... what?

Is the media an instrument for the government and big corporations to achieve their personal interest or is it really a powerful weapon to unmask them? The sad truth is that the media has become, a part from a few exceptions I will mention later, a easy tool for big conglomerates to get profit. The only interest here is: money, and on the bottom of the scale: look for the truth or merely inform.

Shadows of liberty, a documentary directed by Jean-Philippe Tremblay, exhibits the crisis in the US media through history. There are many scandals of goverment and large companies that, as Friedman said in the documentary (if I remember correctly) , if a news does not appear in the mainstream media as The New York Times, The Guardian... is like it has never happened. So, how can we (the journalists) keep the integrity of our professional values if there are contradictory interest behind? Where are people like Woodward and Bernstein nowadays? Oh right! they are refugees in an embassy to flight against the White House... (I will leave aside this lastest example since it is a hard to speak case, and everybody has their own opinion. But as one section Shadows of liberty alludes related to similar subjects in the past: "kill the messenger").

Returning to the docuemtnary, I would like to congratulate Tremblay and his team for brighing to light those hidden interests of big conglomerates and defending the truth of the facts even at the prospect of losing your jobs, because people and ideas like yours makes me believe again in the profession I chose to study.

“If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”  

Malcolm X

Is Spain investing in the past instead of in the future?

Spain is decreasing subsidies for solar energy while investing money in renewing the license for an existing nuclear plant? While the country is considered at the head of the pack in solar energy, the Spain has currently cut subsidies for solar energy. At the same time, Spain is spending money to renew the license for Garoña nuclear plant in the North of the Peninsula.

The Spanish´s Official Newsletter (BOE) published on January 28, 2012 a Decree-Law 1/2012 which “removes, indefinitely, [...] the financial incentives for new installations of the Special Regime until the problem is fixed the tariff deficit”.  In other words, companies will no longer receive fiduciary benefits from installing solar panels as a form of renewable energy as was the situation in the past before the economic crisis. In addition, this Law “indefinitely suspends the registration procedures in the register of pre-allocation provided by the Decree-Law 1578/2008 (for solar photovoltaic installations)”. This Decree-Law of 2008 announced a remuneration of the production of electricity by photovoltaic solar technology, which now has been abrogated for 2012 and subsequent years.

Mariano Rajoy, the President of Spain, said with this recent law all government support for new renewable energy projects would be halted. While, in the same Decree issued on 1/2012 explained that “the final report of the Nuclear Safety Council on tests conducted at Spanish plants indicate that all Spanish plants meet the safety standards needed to cope with earthquakes, other natural phenomena and various large-scale accidents”.

In light of these events, the debate about the renewal license of Garoña nuclear plant has re-opened. According to Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) the lifespan of a nuclear plant license is 40 years.  If Spain follows this statute, it will mean that nuclear stations are designed for a four decade period. Garoña´s license expired in the Spring of 2009 when it the closure was agreed upon. Nowadays, The Nuclear Security Counsel (CSN) has reversed its agreement obtaining a renewal of twenty more years. What are the consequences?  On the surface, few consequences appear immediately.  But there are very harmful repercussions. And are there alternatives? What could they be?  Might they be favorable for humankind. 

In Spain there are 1,839 solar companies that have been established throughout the fifty provinces, according to solarweb, the most complete list of companies in the net. If these numbers are compared with the eight nuclear power plants in Spain, the difference is enormous, according to data provided by the CSN. If solar energy statistics are put into context, the photovoltaic power output, 3,386 MW, establishes Spain in the second position in the ranking of countries with the most installed solar energy in MW, just behind Germany (U.S. Energy Information Administration, Ecoworld, 2012).

There is good news! Solar energy consumption reached its record in July 2011. Photovoltaic Industry Association (ASIF, July 2011) data shows that 5% of the energy demand was covered by solar energy. However if this data is compared with the nuclear energy consumption which is 22%, there is still much more to do.

Source: Spanish Electric Grid (REE), July 2011

The drawback is renewable energies in general and solar energy in particular are not used to its maximum capacity. The Spanish National Action Plan for Renewable Energies (PANER) 2011- 2020 specifies that Spain is characterized, from an energetic point of view, by a structure of imported petroleum product consumption (p.12). This data is ratified by the World Nuclear Association (WNA) when it says that a fifth of its electricity is generated by its eight nuclear reactors.

New developing countries, new risks

However, solar panels in Spain are not developed as much as they could be. This situation leaves an open door for foreign markets as China or India whose governments are moving to stimulate domestic solar demand.

According to the new report on clean energy 2011 promulgated by Pew environment group, “US reclaims worldwide lead in clean energy investment” where the study shows that they invested more than $48bn in the sector in 2011, up from $34bn in 2010. In second place is China as “a dynamic hub of clean energy activity in terms of manufacturing and deployment”. It is noticeable to mention that Germany and Italy are noted as having  “solar deployment and investment soar”. As well as in India where “clean energy investments increased 54% in 2011” to $10.2 billion.

Spain is becoming an important source of clean energy production within the EU. “Almost 90% of the investment ($7,6 billion) was directed toward asset financing in the solar sector”, positioning itself in the forth position (64%) of solar investments behind of Italy (83%), Japan (79%) and South Korea (70%).

Distribution of investment by sector (2005-2011):

(Source: Bloomberg New Energy Finance; February 2012)

However, this data losses its value if the Decree-Law 1/2012 is taken into consideration since the cost of subsidizing renewable becomes unaffordable without financial incentives. Also, WNA provides again specific data about the consequences of this situation: “Solar has also been promoted with a feed-in tariff about EUR 30 c/kWh, but the take-up was so high that the government had to renege on its subsidy commitments in 2010 after investments had been made, almost halving those for large plants” (April 2012).

Achievement vs Competitiveness

Spain meets all the requirements to promote optimal use of solar energy thanks to its geographical location and appropriate climate. Spain is one of the European Union´s countries with the highest amount of solar exposure, however its  privileged position is not being exploited to its fullest potential. The main obstacle in the use of solar energy is the the initial large investment that is required in technology.  An advantage that Spain has is that a solar installation can be located anywhere in the country and it will produce energy and economic savings on the investment.

The Spanish National Action Plan for Renewable Energies (PANER) 2011- 2020 predicts that “by 2020 the share of renewable in our country will be 22.7% of final energy and 42.3% of electricity generation”. The data is contained in the advance of the Renewable Plan 2011-2020, submitted by the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce to the European Commission pursuant to its own directive on the matter (2009/28/EC), which includes targets for mandatory renewable energy for the EU and individual Member States in 2020, and the development of national action plans to achieve those objectives.

Perhaps we can say that Spain aspires to become one of the biggest drivers of this type of energy in the world. This is a sunny country is currently ranks high among countries with this type of investment. Luckily, maybe this kind of “industry” will help Spain overcome the crisis if they make a proper use of positive resource management.

Reforms Up, Reforms Down

Tough Consequences of the Spanish´s Crisis

During the past months Spain has lived in a period of unrest due to the acceptance of the General Budget for 2012. The right-wind government has been subjected to numerous criticism from the labor unions and the opposition party (PSOE). This controversial situation requires knowledge of divergent opinions to get a more complete view of the near future in Spain and to evaluate long term consequences.

Traditionally, the North of Spain has supported right-wind parties and the South of Spain has lived under more left wind parties. However, this situation is not black and white. Two members of Santander´s Worker Union in the North and an employee of the Spanish National Bank in Andalusia in the South of Spain will give different perceptions on what it is happening in the whole of the country.

To a certain extent, the most objective opinion will be provided by José Manuel Marañón a member of the Regional Executive of CCOO (Workers Commission) of Cantabria and the Foundation “May 1” union.  As a side-note, May 1st is when Spain celebrates the day of the worker. On one side, General Secretary of the Teaching´s Federation Javier Ramírez Diez will contribute his view regarding the worker´s union opinion in regards to the related issue. On the other side, Joaquin Sanz Ramirez, a banker from the Popular Spanish Bank (formerly Andalusia´s Bank), will also help us understand more clearly the measures taken by the Government of Mariano Rajoy, leader of the People´s Party (PP).

Spain, as many other countries, is involved in a severe economic crisis. The recent data provided by the National Statistics Institute (INE) has reported that Spanish economy shrank 0.3% over the three months to the end of March thus going back again into recession. This announcement makes it even more difficult to evaluate the positive results of the new austerity measures since they are thought to have influenced the decrease.

According to Manuel Marañón “the General Budget is deeply effected by bad policies from 2011 which will only increased unemployment and shift the economy into recession”. Up to this date, this is in fact the reality in Spain which has been displayed by many social demonstrations from workers and unions. The reasons of the last general strike (29th of March) and the following ones (1st of May) are propagated by “restrictive budgets, antisocial measures that require the middle and lower classes of our society to make far greater efforts than the rest”, as Ramírez Diez states when asked about the new law proposal of state budgets. However, Spain has to reduce its deficit from 8,5% to 5,3% by the end of 2012, which will involve taking austerity measures to keep expenditures within bounds. Joaquín Sanz puts forward a factual case because “the previous governments have had more expenditures  than income. They have caused a deficit in the current moment of world crisis that we can not bear. This has led to a drastic cut in this budget that we have to account for”.

It is necessary here to recapitulate the most important changes in respect to the prior law as well as the differences between previous and current governments. The objective perspective appeals to the reasoning that “these budgets share the same ideological source as previous ones, what means that the most important thing is to reduce the deficit by an adjustment of costs. Although it is true that they have gone much further in areas such as cuts in education, Research & Development and Innovation (R+D+I)”, as Marañon explains. However two divergent points come to light when the question is taken to the outliers stances:
Ramírez Diez denotes that “above all, the differences are in the importance given to social policies (education, health and social welfare), the exaggerated cut in the inducement of the economy through public works and public investment”. All these measures proposed in the draft budgets “are contrary to those that a progressive government that is committed to equitable distribution of resources  would pose”. On the other hand, Joaquín Sanz mentioned Margaret Thatcher when she said that the socialist governments work very well, as they spend the remnants left by previous governments. Historically all socialist governments that have survived and are still in power have left the country in debt and economic crises.

Next point on the table is labour reform where workers are the most disadvantaged because as Marañon describes “essentially, there are two measures that harm workers: cheaper and easier dismissal of workers, and the failure of collective bargaining (that individualized employment relationships). Perhaps the only measure that benefits is some improvement for receiving partial retirement through a relief contract”.

Nevertheless, Ramírez Diez thinks that “there are not any measures that benefit them.  And as for prejudice, I think all of them are very harmful to workers with respect to other taxpayers. They are unjust measures are that are causing more unemployment, impoverishment and social injustice.” Still, Joaquín Sanz accounts for the belief that  “this is not the whole reform. Given the number of companies and freelancers who have closed their businesses, it is more reasonable lower part of its workforce to save the company and keep the rest of the workers in it, than to fire them all. Perhaps if this had been launched before, probably we would not have the current 24% unemployment rate”.

This arguments can be pinpointed in real situations. For example, Marañon cites “the first effects of the reform have been felt, in Cantabria, in the industrial sector where employment was of higher quality. The ideal case is the British company B3 Cable Solution which raised an ERE's of Extinction (Record of Employment Regulation) for 130 workers, and the rest had to lower their wage by 10%”. This, and other cases will lead to the question of if unemployment will rise with this Labour Reform. “In fact, this very government expects unemployment to increase by 600,000 people reaching six million unemployed by  the end of 2012”, Marañon reveals.

Ramírez Diez manifests his concerns: “Yes, we are seeing and suffering it already in many companies, and the local and regional administrations have also joined the bandwagon”. In spite of this statement, Joaquín Sanz remarks that “we should first clarify that the spirit of this law is to help employers. Employers could find a cheaper way to reduce workforce when they can not pay them as well as a way to increase their production and market penetration of their product. On the other hand workers should not see that this law is just looking for firing them. Then, both (employers and workers) fulfill their responsibilities and work. I understand that eventually the situation will stabilize and a recovery will begin”.

The Spanish unrest concerning these circumstances could lead to more social protest as the three interviewees perceived. Here, all agree on the following: Marañon comes to the point that “there will be more protests. Another thing is that they will result in severe social unrest which it will depend on the degree of desperation of the most harmful groups hit by the crisis”. Ramírez Diez gets to the bottom of this, saying that “if government policies do not change, they begin to negotiate with social partners, give collective bargaining the importance it has, change labor reform in the parliamentary process, mobilization of workers and students with trade unions”. Also, Joaquín Sanz describes this scenario as “inevitable”. He even remarked upon the context: “when Spain is not ruled by left wing parties, demonstrations are common. Nevertheless, I would ask the unions to act responsibly to all get us out of this situation, especially when we have more than 5,200,000 unemployed”.

This seems to have no short term solution, but negotiation between parties. Marañon and Ramirez Diez analyze the union action as “if the government does not sit down to negotiate labor reform and continues down the path of cuts in social spending and public investment, unions will continue campaigning”, explains Marañon. Also Ramirez Diez has a point in “urge the Government to arrange and offer the negotiation as the solution to all conflicts”. Here, Joaquin Sanz, as a citizen, “hopes they are responsible and deal with the situation in which we are in”.

The current Government has made reforms, cuts and adjustments all over the budget. There is a way to come out of this crisis for Spain. President Mariano Rajoy bets on these solutions. Although, there could be other directions to address the situation. Marañon emphasizes over a call on the government dialogue, “since February we are in a sustained process of mobilization calling on the government dialogue. But to their deaf ears we have been forced to the extreme measure of the general strike”.

Ramirez Diez expounds in regards to alternatives: 
“Fiscal reform, taxes on large fortunes, a different tax from the SICAV (Investment Company with Variable Capital), a commitment to the fight against tax fraud to improve revenue and reduced spending on issues that do not compromise what we know as the status of welfare (education, health, dependency, social policies), such as defense”.
Besides, Joaquin Sanz has confidence in “waiting a reasonable time to see if the expected results are reached. There are always many other possibilities and none have a magic wand to solve problems 100%. They are a wealth of skills and attitudes that determine the results thereof. Measures should be taken by governments in this very moments, although leaving open the possibility of being modified if the desired results are not met”.

Spain is not the only country who is suffering the consequences of the financial crisis. On the global perspective Germany has supported Spanish measures. Notwithstanding, divergent opinions claiming aptitude in the field. Marañon offers an explanation of the current situation when says that “”Germany has been extolling the cutting measures in the countries of Southern Europe since 2009 and it seems that in general, things are not improving much. Is a real change necessary in economic policies”. According to this idea, Ramírez Diez interprets that “Germany is one who has, or at least given its approval to the budgets. That is good for Germany. But these budgets are not good for Spain. They are bad, antisocial, depressive, unfair,... will not generate any economic recovery and we will sink the country further into economic depression.”

On this very end, Joaquin Sanz defined this reform as “very similar if not equal to the one taken in Germany with the unification of the German states”. Also, he goes on step further when illustrates that “time is something that will let us know whether this reform will start recalling the recovery and the revival of our economy and the reduction of unemployment, something that all Spanish are wishing. 

A country with a low rate of unemployment is a country alive, active, with social improvement, quality of life... in short, what we hope to achieve for the great country of Spain”.

As this article is being written, Spain is recoiling from yet another economic hit.  Bankia, an important bank in Spain, is in the process of being nationalized by the Spanish government after reporting huge losses.  This is yet another speed bump on the road to economic recover y for Spain. The high deficit and debt along with the high rate of unemployment make the situation more complicated to find the best solution between different political parties, associations and workers to unravel.  With this in mind as the sun dawns once again on the Iberic Pennisula, the Spanish people are hoping for a long awaited solution that will ease the current situation. 

Joaquín Sanz Ruiz

Javier Ramirez Diaz

José Manuel Marañón

Reformas “Sí”, Reformas “No”

Debido a la polémica situación que está causando la Propuesta de Ley sobre los Presupuestos Generales del Estado es necesario conocer opiniones diversas, a favor y en contra, de los mismos para tener una visión más completa del futuro próximo de España y poder evaluar sus consecuencias a largo plazo. Para ello, la opinión de Javier Ramírez Diez, Secretario General de la Federación de Enseñanza por un lado y el punto de vista de Joaquín Sanz Ruiz, bancario del banco popular de Andalucía por el otro, han sido proporcionadas en anteriores posts con el fin de ayudar a entender con mayor claridad las medidas tomadas por el Gobierno de Mariano Rajoy, líder del Partido Popular.

En esta ocasión, Jose Manuel Marañón miembro del Comité Ejecutivo Regional de CCOO de Cantabria y la Fundación “1 de Mayo” da otro punto de vista, quizás más neutral, sobre la actual situación española.

Nombre: Jose Manuel Marañón

Cargo: Miembro del Comité Ejecutivo Regional de CCOO de Cantabria y la Fundación “1 de Mayo”

P: ¿Qué piensa de la propuesta de ley sobre los presupuestos generales del estado?.

R: Los PGE profundizan en las malas políticas de los de 2011 que no hicieron otra cosa que aumentar el paro y hacer recaer la economía en la recesión.

P: ¿Podría explicar los puntos más importantes del cambio sobre la ley anterior? Diferencias entre gobiernos?.

R: Estos presupuestos beben de la misma fuente ideológica que los anteriores, es decir lo importante es la reducción del déficit por la vía del ajuste en los gastos. Sí que es verdad que han ido mucho más lejos en temas como los recortes en educación o en I+D+i

P: ¿Qué va a provocar este reforma laboral?

R: Esta reforma laboral va a provocar más paro, despidos más baratos y, sobre todo, un incremento del miedo que va hacer que muchos trabajadores y trabajadoras, individual o colectivamente, acepten con una cierta resignación el empeoramiento de sus condiciones laborales en temas como salario, jornada, movilidades. Etc.

P: Cuáles son las medidas que más perjudican a los trabajadores? Y las que más les benefician?.

R: Fundamentalmente, las medidas que más perjudican a los trabajadores son dos: el abaratamiento y las facilidades para el despido y la quiebra de la negociación colectiva que individualiza las relaciones de trabajo. Quizás la única medida que le beneficia es una cierta mejora para acogerse a una jubilación parcial a través de un contrato de relevo.

P: Ha tenido que solventar últimamente alguna situación en la cual el Real Decreto de la Reforma Laboral afecte negativamente al empleo? Podría explicar el caso?

R: Los primeros efectos de la reforma se han sentido, en Cantabria, en el sector industrial en dónde se daba un empleo de mayor calidad. Caso paradigmático es el de B3 Cable que tras plantear un ERE de extinción para 130 trabajadores lo ha dejado en apenas una veintena pero a cambio de que los demás se bajen el salario un 10%.

P: Cuál cree que es el sector que más ha sufrido los recortes?.

R: En primer lugar, los parados de larga duración que han visto como se les van acabando las prestaciones sin perspectivas de encontrar empleo. Y en general, los colectivos con mayor riesgo: mujeres, jóvenes, inmigrantes, personas con baja cualificación….

P: Piensa que con la reforma laboral subirá el desempleo?.

R: Seguro que sí. De hecho, el propio Gobierno prevé que el paro se incremente en 600.000 personas más con lo que rozará a finales de 2012 los 6 millones de parados.

P: La reforma de regulación de empleo cree que facilita despidos colectivos?

R: Evidentemente. Y más en momentos de crisis dónde al 99% de las empresas les resultará sencillo justificar 3 trimestres consecutivos de bajada de beneficios con lo que aparte de abaratarse el despido deja al trabajador sin capacidad real de defender sus derechos en los tribunales.

P: Cree que van a realizarse más revueltas sociales?.

R: Que va a haber más movilizaciones es seguro. Que la cosa derive en revueltas sociales intensas dependerá del grado de desesperación al que lleguen los colectivos más golpeados por la crisis.

P: Cree que estas medidas solucionarán la situación actual de España?

R: Estas medidas solamente van a profundizar en la recesión, el paro, el empobrecimiento, etc. Insisto, esto ya se probó en Japón a principios de los 90 y el resultado fue un largo período de estancamiento económico.

P: Cuáles son las acciones que van a tomar los sindicatos?

R: Los sindicatos, si el gobierno no se sienta a negociar la reforma laboral y sigue por el camino de los recortes en el gasto social y en la inversión pública, seguiríamos movilizándonos. De entrada, concebirnos las manifestaciones del 1 de mayo como grandes protestas contra la actitud inflexible del propio Gobierno.

P: Qué otras medidas, si las tiene, hubiera propuesto?.

R: Desde febrero estamos en un proceso de movilización sostenida haciendo un llamamiento al diálogo al gobierno. Pero ante sus oídos sordos nos hemos visto obligados a la medida más extrema de la huelga general.

P: Cual es su visión de los resultados de la huelga general del pasado 29 de Marzo? Fue efectiva? Supuso algún cambio?.

R: La Huelga General y sobre todo las manifestaciones del 29 de marzo fueron un éxito rotundo lo que pone en evidencia el hartazgo de mucha gente y la capacidad de liderazgo de los sindicatos confederales. En cuanto a la efectividad, en todas las huelgas generales de la democracia en España se han tardado meses en ver resultados palpables.

P: Según Alemania, éstas medidas van a tener éxito, qué opina al respecto?.

R: Alemania lleva ensalzando las medidas de recortes en los países del Sur e Irlanda desde 2009 y no parece que, en general, las cosas estén mejorando. Es necesario para esto un cambio en las políticas económicas.

"Tendremos que esperar un tiempo prudencial hasta ver si se obtienen los resultados previstos"

Nombre: Joaquín Sanz Ruíz
Cargo: Bancario del Banco Popular Español en Andalucía

1.- ¿Qué piensa de la propuesta de ley sobre los presupuestos generales del estado?

Todo presupuesto debe ser equitativo entre ingresos y gastos. Si durante los anteriores gobiernos se ha gastado más que se ha ingresado, han provocado un déficit que en el momento actual de crisis mundial que vivimos no podemos soportar. Todo ello ha originado un drástico recorte en los presente presupuestos que debemos asumir.

2.-¿ Podría explicar los puntos más importantes del cambio sobre la ley anterior? ¿Diferencias entre gobiernos?

Desde el punto de vista del que mantiene un trabajo surge la siguiente pregunta ¿Si los que trabajan tiene que mantener a los que están en paro y a estos no se les busca una solución a sus problemas, para que seguir trabajando? Ya me mantendrán sin preocuparme de nada. En España se acude a la oficina de empleo a que le pregunten si ha encontrado algo y a decirle que de memento no tienen nada para él. Ni siquiera le hacen preocuparse por que busque directamente trabajo el parado.

Miss Margaret Thatcher (La dama de hierro) decía que los gobiernos socialistas funcionan muy bien, mientras gastan los remanentes que dejan los gobiernos anteriores. Históricamente todo gobierno socialista que ha perdurado en el poder, ha dejado el país endeudado y con crisis económicas.

3.- ¿Que va a provocar esta reforma?

Efectivamente la reforma laboral planteada no creo que sea perfecta ni que solucione completamente los problemas de paro actuales, si bien se tenía que tomar medidas que alentaran a los empresarios, autónomos e inversionistas para que confiaran a corto y medio plazo sobre la recuperación del país.

Creo que una reforma de este calado ha tenido que ser consensuada con los países más importantes de la U.E. (Alemania y Francia), dado que dependemos de la comunidad para posibles protecciones contra la crisis.

4.- ¿Cuáles son las medidas que más perjudican a los trabajadores? ¿y las que más le benefician?

Quizás la medida más perjudicial que se ha tomado es que si la empresa da perdidas puede reducir su plantilla mediante despido e indemnizando económicamente con una cantidad inferior a la que estaba estipulada con anterioridad.

Pero no se puede uno quedar solamente con una parte de la reforma. Teniendo en cuenta la cantidad de empresas y autónomos que han cerrado sus negocios, es más razonable rebajar parte de su plantilla para salvar la empresa y mantener al resto de los trabajadores en la misma, que condenar a todos al paro. Quizás si esto se hubiese puesto en marcha antes, posiblemente no tendríamos los 5.200.000 parados actuales.

5.-¿ Ha tenido que solventar últimamente alguna situación en la cual este cambio de ley afecte a la solución del problema?

Gracias a Dios no he tenido que vivir directamente ningún caso, si bien he tenido conocimiento de varios y he podido comprobar las dos posturas a la que tiene riesgo esta Ley: La de la empresa que se ha aprovechado de la situación provocando pérdidas, como la de los sindicatos que ha provocado la ruina y el cierre de otras, sin tener en cuenta las repercusiones de sus actos y solamente con la única satisfacción de hundir a un empresario.

6.- ¿Piensa que con la reforma laboral subirá el desempleo?

Creo que lo primero que deberíamos asumir es el espíritu con el que se crea esta ley. Si los empresarios no ven una forma barata de reducir plantillas y aceptan que es una forma de aumentar su producción y penetración en el mercado de su producto y los trabajadores no ven una forma de que esta ley lo único que busca es que puedan ser despedidos y ambos (empresarios y trabajadores) cumplen con su responsabilidades en e trabajo, entiendo que a medio plazo se estabilizará la situación actual y se iniciará una recuperación.

7.-La reforma de regulación de empleo cree que facilitará despidos colectivos?

Nos encontramos ante una reforma que tiene que ser asumida con sentido de la responsabilidad y honradez por todas las partes.

Entiendo que se debería crear un organismo de seguimiento que controlara y garantizara el correcto cumplimiento de la ley, que cumpla con los objetivos y con la filosofía con la que entiendo se ha creado , para evitar abusos por ambas partes.

8.- ¿Cree que van a realizarse más revueltas sociales?

Inevitablemente. Cuando gobierna un partido que no es de izquierdas, en España es habitual.

Pediría a los sindicatos una actuación responsable para poder entre todos salir de esta situación, máxime cuando tenemos más de 5.200.000 parados.

9.- ¿Qué espera de las acciones que van a tomar los sindicatos?

Espero que sean responsables y coherentes con la situación que vivimos.

10- ¿Qué opina de las medidas del gobierno?

El gobierno ha tomado estas decisiones como podría haber tomado otras.

Tendremos que esperar un tiempo prudencial hasta ver si se obtienen los resultados previstos. Posibilidades de otras medidas siempre existen y ninguna tiene una varita mágica que solucionen al 100% los problemas. Son un cúmulo de aptitudes y actitudes las que determinan los resultados de las mismas.

Todos tenemos en mente una serie de posibilidades de cambios que pensamos serían mejores, pero lo cierto que las medidas deben ser tomadas por los gobiernos, sin que se cierren a poderlas modificar si los resultados esperados no se cumplen. No podemos permitirnos gobiernos soberbios ni egoístas.

11.- ¿Cree que estas medidas solucionarán la situación de España?

Las presentes medidas no son una panacea, ni el milagro para todos los problemas.

No mantengo que esta reforma sea la mejor, ni la peor, es una alternativa tomada por el actual gobierno. Debo pensar que ha sido pensada y estudiada detenidamente y que junto a otras medida, esta sea la que le parezca la mejor para poder salir de la situación tan agobiante actual. Si a medio plazo no surtieran los resultados previstos, el gobierno se deberá plantear cambiarlas y tomar otras que entiendan sean más efectivas.

12.- Según Alemania estas medidas van a tener éxito. ¿Qué opina al respecto?

La presente reforma, para mi es muy parecida sino es igual a la tomada en Alemania con la unificación de los estados alemanes. Quizás haya sido recomendada por el conjunto de los países de la U.E. y con su visto bueno.

El tiempo es algo que tendrá que decirnos si la presente reforma podrá iniciar la recuperación que todos los españoles deseamos y poder llegar a la reducción del paro y el relanzamiento de nuestra economía.

Un país con un pequeño índice de paro es un país vivo, activo, con mejoras sociales, con calidad de vida, en definitiva el gran país que esperamos conseguir en España.-

"Ofrecemos la negociación como la solución de todos los conflictos"

Nombre: Javier Ramírez Diez

Cargo: Secretario General de la Federación de Enseñanza

P: Qué piensa de la propuesta de ley sobre los presupuestos generales del estado?

R: Son unos presupuestos restrictivos, antisociales, que a las clases medias y bajas de nuestra sociedad les obligan a realizar esfuerzos mucho mayores que al resto. Crean una fisura importantísima en la Enseñanza de nuestro país con respecto al resto de la OCDE, tanto en financiación como en recursos materiales y humanos, al igual que sucede en Sanidad y dependencia.

P: Podría explicar los puntos más importantes del cambio sobre la ley anterior? Diferencias entre gobiernos?

R: Sobre todo, las diferencias están en la importancia que les dan a las políticas sociales (educación, sanidad y dependencia), el exagerado recorte que hay en la incentivación de la economía mediante obra pública e inversión pública. El desprecio absoluto que proponen ante la I+D+i, con su recorte al igual que la política de becas. Y especial mención merece la amnistía fiscal a los grandes defraudadores en vez de plantear el fortalecimiento de la agencia tributaria y la persecución del fraude como medida de ampliación de la recaudación. Así mismo echamos en falta una reforma fiscal, impuestos a grandes fortunas, bancos, etc.

Todas estas medidas que se plantean en el proyecto de presupuestos son contrarias de las que plantearía un gobierno progresista, que apueste por la distribución equitativa de los esfuerzos.

P: Cuáles son las medidas que más perjudican a los trabajadores? Y las que más les benefician?

R: Beneficiar creo que ninguna. Y en cuanto al perjuicio, creo que el conjunto de ellas las hacen sumamente lesivas a los trabajadores con respecto al resto de contribuyentes.

P: Ha tenido que solventar últimamente alguna situación en la cual el Real Decreto de la Reforma Laboral afecte negativamente al empleo? Podría explicar el caso?

R: Estamos viendo como día a día se están incrementando los despidos por "causas objetivas" alegando las empresas una disminución de los ingresos, indemnizando a los trabajadores con 20 días por año trabajado. Además estamos temiéndonos en varias empresas ERE's de Extinción para "aligerar" las mismas de las personas de mayor antigüedad. Esto antes no sucedía, negociábamos los expedientes de regulación como suspensiones temporales, y explorábamos todas los posibilidades antes de los despidos, pero ahora las empresas tienen una salida más fácil y económica para ellos, creando verdaderos dramas sociales.

P: Piensa que con la reforma laboral subirá el desempleo?

R: Sí, ya lo estamos viendo y sufriendo en muchas empresas, y en las administraciones tanto locales como regionales también se han sumado al carro.

P: Cree que van a realizarse más protestas sociales?

R: Si las políticas del gobierno no varían, comienzan a negociar con los agentes sociales, dan a la Negociación Colectiva la importancia que tiene, y modifican en el trámite parlamentario la gravísima reforma laboral, la movilización de los trabajadores, estudiantes, con los sindicatos a la cabeza, la protesta social estará servida.

P: Cuáles son las acciones que van a tomar los sindicatos?

R: Lo primero instar al Gobierno a negociar, y ofrecer la negociación como la solución de todos los conflictos. Con la carta que Toxo y Méndez le enviaron a Rajoy en este sentido, la pelota está en el alero del Gobierno.

P: Cree que estas medidas solucionarán la situación actual de España? Qué otras medidas, si las tiene, hubiera propuesto?

R: Las políticas del gobierno creemos que son erróneas, que agravan problemas sociales y no solucionan ni a corto ni a medio plazo la situación de los más de 5 millones de parados ni la de aquellos que ven que los suyos penden de un hilo.

La reforma Fiscal, impuestos a las grandes fortunas, una fiscalidad, diferente a las SICAV, una apuesta por la lucha contra el fraude fiscal, para mejorar los ingresos y una reducción del gasto en aquellas cuestiones que no pongan en peligro lo que conocemos como el estado del bienestar (educación, sanidad, dependencia, políticas sociales), como puede ser Defensa.

P: Según Alemania, éstas medidas van a tener éxito, qué opina al respecto?

R: Que Alemania es quien ha hecho, o al menos a dado el visto bueno a los presupuestos. Que son buenos para Alemania, puede ser. Pero creo que todavía somos un estado soberano, y que los alemanes de la CDU conozcan antes los presupuestos que nuestro Parlamento no me gusta nada, no es buena señal. Estos presupuestos no son buenos para España, son malos, antisociales, depresivos, injustos, ... no van a generar ninguna recuperación económica y nos van a hundir más en la depresión económica.

March 29th: Spain´s National Strike against labor reform

Today, Mariano Rajoy, the new Spanish president since past November, faces his first general strike on March 29th, 2012. The economic measures proposed by his government for 2012 have provoked an upsurge among the Spanish population. The unfavorable economic situation which Spain is undergoing is spearheaded by consumption and monetary behaves. These factors are leading the population to the greatest mobilization in social arenas that has been seen in years.

Spain’s government has seen a change in its political ideology from left to right-wing in the previous elections. The political agenda of the new government is aimed to protect entrepreneurs and bankers, leaving aside the biggest losers of the financial crisis, the workers.

"Unite and fight for our future. 29M general strike"

The purpose of the strike is to make the new government rectify its agenda and not to apply their new labor reform that will harm workers’ rights. Unions and workers will rally in a full day general strike to protect labor sector through actions where members of the population will participate in a consumer strike by not buying or hiring any service, not driving or refueling automobiles, not using the public transportation or other services that are not emergencies and minimizing the use of telephone, water, gas and electricity for a day.

Will the general strike get the attention of the new government?

Many videos and comments are circulating through social networks supporting the demonstration by defending social rights. There are blogs that encourage people to support the strike by explaining why it is necessary to attend the movement. There is even a website, where it is possible to make companies public that will not allow its workers to go to the strike.

Strike or not? – Pros and Cons

The Arturo Soria IES assembly gives arguments for the people who do not want to go on strike, such as: “The strike is not a solution”. However, a counter-argument can say: “The strike is not a solution, is the most powerful instrument of pressure that workers currently have at our disposal to enforce our rights in a totally unjustified aggression”. For those who think like: “The strike will be for naught”, the answer could be: “Historically, all improvements of workers have been won through struggles. This strike is only the beginning, but it is a very important step”. And finally, others could say: “Spain can not stand a strike”. However, “what the country can not stand is a labor reform that will not solve the unemployment problem and cause more layoffs and instability in the new contracts. The country can not support tax increases, pay visits of the Pope, F1 circuits, airports without planes, patterns of corruption and privileges of the royal family – and the general strike is the only way to say, enough”.

"On thursday 29th, this establishment will be closed"

According to the Bank of Spain, the Iberian Peninsula continues in economic recession in the first quarter of the year, reaching one of the highest unemployment rates in the Europe with almost five million people out of work in February 2012. This has provoked fed up citizens to go on a general consumption and work strike. The main purpose is to demonstrate against the new labor reforms where measures are aimed to make dismissal cheaper for employers and reduce compensation for unfair dismissal. Also, these measures will incorporate new hiring conditions that will make employment situation more precarious for workers by removing the redundancy payment given to employees when they are layed off. Finally, this new labor reform will allow working conditions to worsen therefore warranting employers to not partake in the collective agreement.

This Royal Decree of labor reform has been ratified in the House of Representatives supported by the representatives of the PP, CiU, UPN and FAC and without the approval of the PSOE, Plural Left, PNV, and UPyD and the rest of the “Mix Group”. A total of 197 deputies against 142 members, respectively.

At the moment, Rajoy and his People’s Party (PP) have lost some support in the past Sunday’s regional elections in the provinces of Andalusia and Asturias. This could mean a negative response to the most recent enacted economic and social cuts. The Spanish population’s response will be observed by the world this coming Thursday, March 29^th to see whether the government will do an about-face on their social and economic reforms or if they will continue their path even though they are facing great resistance from the Spanish population.