Spaniards Demand Free Trade Unions

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30389, 13 March 1964, Page 10

Spaniards Demand Free Trade Unions

(N Z.P. A .-Reuter—Copyrig ht) MADRID, March 11. Hundreds of demonstrators shouting “we want free unions” gathered outside the headquarters of Spain’s single trade union organisation in Madrid yesterday.

Inside the headquarters delegates to the third congress of the union were discussing a draft proposal calling for greater powers and status for the movement. The proposal calls for a supreme representative organisation that would have official status within the Constitution ot Spain. The congress opened on Monday and is attended by some 1000 delegatesNine British Socialists and trade unionists are among the 60 foreign observers at the congress, at which economic and social problems are usually discussed with considerable freedom. The organisations’ top directors are Government appointees. The rest of the delegates represent some 9,000,000 Spaniards ranging from business and industrial executives to Charwomen. A press official of the congress said that late this evening groups began to gather outside the union headquarters and complained that the delegates inside were not “truly representative.” There was some scuffling and a few glass doors were broken. No-one appears to have been hurt in the demonstration. One report said the police made 12 arrests. Leaflets are believed to

have been circulated in working-class districts of Madrid, calling for tonight’s demonstration. The leaflets said workers should ask for a minimum daily wage of 150 pesetas, the right to strike and free unions.

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