Strike in Vitoria-Gasteiz: start with cold, end with heat
- The strike has risen from the bottom to the top in Vitoria-Gasteiz in a remarkable way, until noon today. Early morning pickets have not brought many strikers together, hundreds of people have mobilized in the morning columns and the demonstration at 12:00 noon has filled the streets. In the workplace, education has been the most influential on the strike: the unions have mentioned unemployment at around 75%. The rest of the companies remain open, and the number of shops they close has not been very high - with exceptions such as the Old Town.
The first pickets were called at 5:00 in the morning in the three polygons nearby. Instead of piqueting on foot, the organizers wanted to cut or slow down circulation, clustering cars and keeping them slowly around the roundabouts. The Ertzaintza has imposed at least five fines for “hindering traffic” and according to Alea, in Álava, it has identified 13 people.
On the campus of Vitoria-Gasteiz the first piquet has blocked the entrance of the Aulario at 9:00. By then, there was very little activity in schools and in secondary schools. Later, several races have been held between police and youth, including many wounded. From 9:30 hours there were four columns called to the city. It is worth noting the attitude of the police towards El Corte Inglés and the piquet organized by the feminist movement. In El Corte Inglés, several people have been detained and inspected without any explanation and in an inadequate manner by the agents. The Municipal Police has acted more intensely than the Ertzaintza, but without further consequences. Subsequently, as the piquet moved through the streets, some of the participants have crossed the containers they have found along the way or made painted. The feminist column has managed to close several shops, but the Ertzaintza has been launched with force, at least twice. She has injured several women* and identified three.
Home, non-end
In addition to the central demonstration at noon, blocks have been added: tractors, feminist bloc, youth bloc, trade unions, pensioners, among whom women pensioners have taken their own differentiated space. The mobilization has been multitudinous, as it has brought together thousands of Alaveses (some 25,000 according to the callers) to protest the strike. Both the organizers' and participants' faces expressed joy. In general, the route has been quiet, but there have been moments of tension between police and protesters, after dozens of young people have thrown bottles or tomatoes against the police and El Corte Inglés.
In the final act, held in the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, several agents have read two communiqués. Everyone very much appreciated the follow-up to the strike. Everyone has emphasised itself and several demands have been heard: the importance of pensions, the precariousness of youth, the need for feminism, numerous questions to the employers, the Basque Government and the new Spanish Government, the need to fight... One idea has been the most repeated: today's is not the end of a road, but the beginning.
At the end of the demonstration, most of the neighbours have addressed their homes, while many others have been replaced in the plaza or in the surroundings. I had to. At 17:00 hours, several social agents have already announced their actions and at 18:00 hours will begin the second central mobilization of the day from the Plaza de Santa Maria.
Hego Euskal Herrian arrazoi soziolaboralak edo politikoak direla medio, greba orokor bat deitzeak bere jarduera guztia geldiaraztea bilatzen du. Batzuentzat urtarrilaren 30eko greba orokorra arrakastatsua izan da, eta beste batzuentzat porrota, bakoitzaren betaurrekoen arabera.
Urtarrilaren 30eko Greba Orokorraren biharamunean, grebak suposatu duenaren inguruan hausnartzeko tartea hartu dugu Sonia Gonzalezekin.
