We are facing the biggest company lockdown ever seen in Euskal Herria, the bleeding. Industrial reconversion in our country affected large public enterprises and destroyed thousands of jobs. But most of the workers were reassured about their future, because they were guaranteed pre-retirement (even those 45 years old from Babcock & Wilcox) or because, without any difficulty, they were recognized as occupational diseases or incapacities to leave. Today, on the other hand, the situation is completely different. Closure and bleeding of businesses are affecting all sectors, but especially small and medium-sized enterprises. There are thousands of jobs lost.

The media talk about daily demonstrations: strikes, shuffles, demonstrations, marches… The protagonists are the workers of large and medium-sized enterprises, who have the capacity to mobilise and organise themselves, who have trade unions and works councils. There is another reality, that of the smallest company, that of the people who work one, five or twenty, who are isolated without trade unions or committees. These companies are closing down by droplets, but only the workers themselves and their families are aware of this. The red alert in local trade is a good example of this situation.

Behind this bleeding can be mismanagement and lack of consumption. But the main reason is banks and financial institutions, which have closed the source of credit and drown these businesses. Public administrations should immediately implement a plan to prevent the dismantling of small industries and businesses, which are impoverishing the population. This plan should provide for fiscal benefit measures and the commitment of Kutxabank, Laboral Kutxa, CAN, BBVA and other banks to facilitate credit. Before the crisis, they “thicken” themselves at the expense of these companies. Now it's time for credit.