The Wages for Housework Campaign in Barcelona has been
setting up their new Centre from which they co-ordinate the Strike in Spain. They launched
the Strike at a national women's meeting in December and issued a call for trade union
support for a two-hour break. On 22 February, the Confederacion General del Trabajo, one
of the three main unions, officially called for a national two-hour GENERAL STRIKE on 8
March to demand pay equity and wages for housework!!! Workers would stop on all three
shifts: between 12-2pm for the morning; 7-9pm for the afternoon and 10pm-midnight for the
night. Their statement calls for:
"1. The material equality in all sectors of production, between the pay of
women and men, as well as in all other labour rights, especially in the field of
professional promotion.
2. The urgent adoption of effective measures for the insertion of women in the
labour market with preferential attention given to their socio-economic conditions and
their family responsibilities.
3. The setting up of a social wage for all women working in their own home,
equivalent to the taxable unemployment benefit . . . "
Like last year, a full day of activities is planned in Barcelona, from press
conference and women’s speakout during the lunchtime stoppage in the main square, to
an evening fiesta. The Women in the Church group is participating and has linked their
website to the Strike site. Many other activities are taking place all over Spain.
Basque Country
