All sectors down tools for Women’s Day general strike
Government says stoppage noted most in universities, while union says participation "higher" than last year
The general strike coinciding with International Women’s Day on Friday was followed above all in universities, where 72% of people, including both employees and students, participated in the day of action for women’s rights, according to government figures.
A labor department statement said that the numbers of people taking part in the stoppage varied according to sector, with participation reaching 18.5% on Barcelona's Metro, 11.8% in public schools, and 8.2% among public servants.
On other transport services, participation in the strike was 7.6% on Renfe's Rodalies local rail network, 9% on the government's Ferrocarrils rail service, and 3.2% on the Barcelona's bus service.
In the area of health, 3.7% of workers in public and semi-private centers took part in the stoppage, while in private centers the figure was 1.1%.
Participation in “practically all sectors,” says union
As for one of the country’s largest trade unions, CGT, it announced that participation in this year’s general strike was "higher" than last year’s in “practically all sectors.”
Among the demands made by strikers are equal rights, an end to the gender pay gap, an end to violence against women, and an end to oppressive capitalism.