On 1 October the Tubacex strike was on its last day, as the next time ELA, CCOO and Independents signed an agreement with the company’s management. However, what was supposed to be a quiet day deteriorated for two strikers.

A. O. Orduña was one of them, and so it says: "There were some fences thrown near the river and one of my peers and I picked them up and moved them. In front of a garden located in front of the factory, a Municipal Police car appeared, ascended to the sidewalk in front of us, and a police officer descended - apparently well known in Llodio - saying that we were fools, so on the last day of the strike."

After these statements, the worker began discussions with the Municipal Police and asked her to identify herself: "Because he didn't tell me what my ID wanted, I didn't give him at first. Then yes, and I saw that the illegal thing was done with her: she photographed our documents with her phone. This is contrary to the data protection law."

All of this happened around 09:00 and 12:00, when trade union meetings began ELA and LAB, A.O. observed that the barriers were on the road. As a result, the worker went to the headquarters of the Municipal Guard with the agent of discussion. "If this was so serious, how was it possible that barriers were hindering traffic within a few hours of confrontation? ", the operator asks.

Fine of EUR 3,000

Just a month later, in November, the worker was informed of the fine. According to the complaint, the agent accused him of obstructing the road with fences, which the laborer totally denies: "In the photo we made, we see that the fences are in the garden and not on the road. We didn't put them on the road, the accusation is false, for me it looks like a police montage."

The alleged infringement is traffic and is managed by the City Hall of Laudio. The total amount of the fine is EUR 3,000.

In addition, the police accused him of not identifying himself, of disrespect and of carrying a knife: "I had some ropes to put up banners and a knife and he accused me of carrying an illegal gun."

These last two fines, of 700 euros each, were channeled by the Ertzaintza in application of the Law of Citizen Security, known as the Mordaza Law.

Meetings to remove the fine

Both by himself and through the unions, the worker hit the doors of the mayor and the head of the municipal police and eventually managed to meet with them to explain that the accusation had nothing to do with reality. However, the municipal officials indicated that the withdrawal of the fine would be prevarication and would follow the usual procedure.

Faced with this, the worker has filed two appeals through the ELA trade union lawyer and the case will end on 21 November in the Administrative Court. On that date, both parties will have to submit their versions and the judge will decide who is the reason.