1988 Spanish general strike

hist November 2021 November 2021 The 1988 Spanish general strike, known locally as 14-D (shortened form of 14 Diciembre), was a general strike in Spain that took place on December 14, 1988. It was called by the two main trade unions: CCOO and Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT).Gracia D. La huelga general de 1988 The general strike of 1988 Los 20 días que conmovieron España 2006 Expansión https://www.expansion.com/especiales/20aniversario/20diasespana/14d.html es 3 November 2021Vargas Jairo 14-D, 25 años de la huelga que paralizó España 14-D, 25 years after the strike that paralyzed Spain https://www.publico.es/actualidad/14-d-25-anos-huelga.html 13 December 2013 Público es 3 November 2021Fernández Juan 14-D: el día en que el país se paró 14-D: the day the country stood still El Periódico de Catalunya Cuaderno https://www.elperiodico.com/es/cuaderno/20181208/14-d-el-dia-en-que-el-pais-se-paro-30-anos-7188359 8 December 2018 es 3 November 2021 Triggered by a significant reform in the labour market, namely a new more flexible contract for inexperienced youngsters with less redundancy pay, the strike was moreover a manifestation of general discontent with Spain's PSOE government policies. The government's economic policies were thought to be too conservative by trade unions and many left-wing voters. The country was completely and peacefully paralyzed for 24 hours, prompting the government to negotiate with the unions. Even the TV signal was turned off by the workers. That flexible contract was retired and welfare state was increased. However, the strike did not prevent a third absolute majority by PSOE, whose leader, Felipe González, remained popular. Consequences of the 14-D strike Some economists believe the strike was the cause of a large increase in public spending, which led to an increase in the budget deficit. Others prefer to attribute public spending to the 1992 Olympic Games held in Barcelona, the 1992 world fair in Seville, plus the first high-speed train, for the large budget deficit. The budget deficit led to spending cuts which, coupled with a tough monetary policy, led to a recession in 1993. Use of 14-D in other strikes Several minority trade unions, including the students’ union, the anarchist Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT), and the second-largest teachers’ union, STEC, called a strike in the education sector on 14 December 2005. The action sought to invoke the symbolic significance of 14-D, previously associated with left-led strikes, and to protest a proposed education law that increased public funding for private schools, many of which were Catholic. The strike attracted limited participation due to the absence of support from larger unions. December 2025 Organized labour Other important general strikes in modern Spain 1985 strike (24 hours): only called by CC.OO., one of the two main unions, against reforms in the pension system. 1991 strike (4 hours): against Gulf War.Resistance to the 1991 Gulf War https://files.libcom.org/files/Resistance%20to%20the%201991%20Gulf%20War2.pdf 31 December 2025 Libcom.org Libcom 1992 strike (8 hours): against labour market reforms. 1994 strike (24 hours): against labour market reforms. 2002 strike (24 hours): against labour market reforms. 2003 strike (2 hours): against Iraq War (only called by UGT).Martín Artiles Antonio Spanish unions call for general strike against Iraq War https://coilink.org/20.500.12592/hn45m1 live 31 December 2025 Eurofound 2010 strike 2012 strike on 29 March2012-03-29 Spanish general strike protesters clash with police https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17545174 2025-12-31 BBC News en-GB See also Workers' Commissions Unión General de Trabajadores Confederación Nacional del Trabajo La Canadenca strike Marcelino Camacho Felipe González References External links Tve broadcast about the 30th anniversary of the General Strike of 14 D 1988; 14 December 2018 Video of Spanish TV broadcast of 13 December 1988, with transmission cut and test pattern at 12:00 a.m. Video commemorating the 30th anniversary of the General Strike Spanish General Strike, 1988 Category:General strikes in Spain Category:Labour disputes in Spain Category:Labour movement in Spain Spanish General Strike, 1988 Spanish General Strike, 1988 Category:Protests in Spain