Solidarity with the Spanish workers and unions for their right to strike

On behalf of the Workers' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee, I would like to express our full support and solidarity with the Spanish trade unionists who are involved in a court trial and could face several years of imprisonment for having exercised their right to strike in a peaceful and lawful way.

We know that for many months now, you have been engaged in this battle marked by mobilizations, statements from international organisations and institutions, as well as court actions, that will reach its climax with the trial of several AIRBUS trade unionists. There are almost 300 trade unionists involved in criminal and administrative trials for having exercised their right to strike. It is an unprecedented attack on trade union freedom in the EU.

This is incomprehensible and shocking in a democratic Europe of which Spain is a part.

We join you in your condemnation of this unacceptable violation of the fundamental texts of EU law, the right to strike and trade union freedom as laid down in the Spanish Constitution and the constitutional court's rulings which establish that picketing is an integral part of the right to strike.

We support your repeated calls for the repeal of article 315.3 of the penal code (that dates back to the Franco period) that had not been used for 35 years until the Spanish People's Party came into power in 2011.

Intimidation, repression and imprisonment for taking industrial action amount to violations of the right to strike.

As you proclaim, comrades of the UGT and the CCOO, we, the Spanish and European trade unionists, "will not be silenced".

Gabriele Bischoff

President of the Workers' Group