Spain: Strike actions paralyse orange campaign

The Lower Guadalquivir Workers' Movement, which took industrial action in the orange sector, called the strike "a success," with 100% support in Palma del Rio and Posadas and well over 90% in Hornachuelos.

Pedro Armada, spokesperson of the Movement, met yesterday with the Deputy Government Delegate and the Andalusian Government delegate, Juan José Primo and Isabel Ambrosio, which was deemed a step in the right direction. To avoid abuse on labourers, he stressed the importance of having an agricultural census specifying production hectares and workforce, as well as creating a job bank formed by SAE-registered labourers.

Francisco Moro, CTA's General Secretary, asked entrepreneurs to negotiate an agreement with the strike committee. The committee announced protests for 14 and 16 January and a meeting on Tuesday 15.

Palma del Rio's Mayor, José Antonio Ruiz Almenara, urged the Lower Guadalquivir Workers' Movement to submit their demands on paper "to be able to give concrete answers." Ruiz Almenara also met with citrus entrepreneurs, who choose not to make any statements.

Meanwhile, María Trujillo, of the General Workers Union (UGT), said that "workers do not deserve being forced to take strike action every year," and inquired why the control board for good business practices, agreed to be implemented in 2009, has not been called.

Finally, the president of Asaja Cordoba, Ignacio Fernández de Mesa, referred to the allegations of abusive and illegal practices from entrepreneurs and foremen to say that "the only way is through the Courts, because generic accusations lead nowhere."

In the afternoon, during the meeting, Pedro Armada informed of the arrest by the Guardia Civil of a farm's foreman in the town of Las Villalonas.