Gibraltar general strike remembered

This video from Gibraltar says about itself:

Gibraltar frontier demonstrations 25 May 2012

On Friday 25 May 2012 demonstrations were held on both sides of the frontier between Spain and Gibraltar. Both demonstrations had one thing in common. Everyone has had enough of the Spanish government‘s harassment. In Spain, cross border workers are fed up of having to endure queues sometimes taking up to 4 hours to cross. In Gibraltar ordinary citizens who do not even cross over are affected by the queues of cars which are sometimes so long that they bring traffic in Gibraltar to a complete stop.

The Spanish government has always used this as a means of harassment. One could say that the length of the queue is directly proportional to the Spanish government’s mood.

On the Gibraltar side the demonstration was organised by a newly founded group called The Gibraltarian Struggle against Spanish Nationalistic Oppression (GSSNO). It has been created to ensure that the voice of courageous Gibraltarians are heard around the world.

The organiser has stated that Gibraltarians have suffered enough harassment, oppression, ridicule and pain throughout the generations to put up with it any longer. Spain likes to call itself a civilized country – its time the world was shown just how civilized it is.

On the Spanish side of the border Juan Jose Uceda, spokesman for ASCTEG, a cross-border worker association said that what cross-border workers wanted was the free flow of people and vehicles across the border, without discrimination.

By Luke James in Britain:

McCluskey to mark walkout anniversary

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey will join celebrations in Gibraltar tomorrow to mark the 40th anniversary of a historic week-long general strike.

The 1972 walkout ensured that public-sector workers in Gibraltar received the same pay and conditions as employees on mainland Britain.

Bosses had offered workers a derisory below-inflation pay rise of 40 pence.

But, backed by colleagues in the private sector, unions organised island-wide action and won a pay deal that was four times more than the original offer.

Mr McCluskey said that the trade unionists who took part in that landmark dispute ensured a fairer future for the island [rather: peninsula], which is known as “the Rock.”

He said: “The trade union movement has a proud history in Gibraltar and today the unions continue to deliver justice and fairness to workers on the island regardless of nationality.

“It is right that we should pay tribute to the leaders and the workers who fought for fairness and justice.

“Forty years later Gibraltarians continue to enjoy many of the rights which the trade unions secured all those years ago.”

Unite is the largest trade union in Gibraltar, representing workers in both the public and private sectors.

As part of his visit Mr McCluskey will meet Gibralta‘s chief minister and Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party leader Fabian Picardo.

Mr Picardo, who has led a coalition government since December 2011, has taken action to grant Gibraltan nationality to workers of Moroccan origin, who had been refused recognition by previous conservative administrations.

See also here.

Related articles

• EU attempts to calm border row between Gibraltar and Spain (theolivepress.es)
• Gibraltar condemns Spanish policy of deliberate delays at the border crossing (en.mercopress.com)
• Spain warned amid Gibraltar row (bbc.co.uk)
• Gibraltar stands firm against Rajoy (theolivepress.es)
• Britain summons Spanish ambassador over Gibraltar ‘incursions’ (telegraph.co.uk)
• European Strife: Spanish Warships Breach Gibraltar Waters Over Territorial Spat With British (stratrisks.com)
• PDP – UK must respond to Spanish politically motivated frontier queues with action, not just words (thegibraltarian.wordpress.com)