MADRID—The Madrid metro system has been shut down since Monday by workers strike over proposed wage cuts.
The workers are protesting a 5 percent salary cut proposed by the president of the Madrid Community, Esperanza Aguirre, in an effort to save 9.8 million in public expenses.
The strike began Monday and on Tuesday, even minimum services were canceled. The metro has lost $7.8 million and 2 million riders have had to find alternative transportation around the capital.
The state of chaos in the city improved slightly on Wednesday, but buses were still full to capacity by the third stop, and, despite high prices, taxis were hard to find. Suburban train service was limited to the periphery of the city, and many people, opting for private vehicles, clogged streets in the city center. Thousands of workers arrived late to their jobs, and others did not go at all.
In a meeting Wednesday, the main trade unions, the Spanish Workers’ Commission (CCOO) and General Workers Union (UGT), said they would continue the strike.
The secretary general of UGT, Piñuela Teodoro said, “If we need to turn Madrid upside down, we'll do it again.” The head of CCOO, Ignacio Arribas, argued that metro workers “have not broken the law as much as the government of Madrid has.” He said the government is trying to impose a decree, which violates a collective agreement negotiated in 2009.
The strike also stopped metro services to Barajas Airport.
The workers are protesting a 5 percent salary cut proposed by the president of the Madrid Community, Esperanza Aguirre, in an effort to save 9.8 million in public expenses.
The strike began Monday and on Tuesday, even minimum services were canceled. The metro has lost $7.8 million and 2 million riders have had to find alternative transportation around the capital.
The state of chaos in the city improved slightly on Wednesday, but buses were still full to capacity by the third stop, and, despite high prices, taxis were hard to find. Suburban train service was limited to the periphery of the city, and many people, opting for private vehicles, clogged streets in the city center. Thousands of workers arrived late to their jobs, and others did not go at all.
In a meeting Wednesday, the main trade unions, the Spanish Workers’ Commission (CCOO) and General Workers Union (UGT), said they would continue the strike.
The secretary general of UGT, Piñuela Teodoro said, “If we need to turn Madrid upside down, we'll do it again.” The head of CCOO, Ignacio Arribas, argued that metro workers “have not broken the law as much as the government of Madrid has.” He said the government is trying to impose a decree, which violates a collective agreement negotiated in 2009.
The strike also stopped metro services to Barajas Airport.
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