Miners' Black March reaches the Spanish capital
Tuesday 10 July 2012
Printable
EmailSpanish miners held rallies in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square this evening ahead of larger protests planned for tomorrow.
The miners have completed a three-week "black march" on the capital in protest at the Mariano Rajoy government's drastic 63 per cent cuts to the industry's subsidies.
Trade union UGT spokeswoman Conchi Alonso said mining had dwindled to "almost nothing" already in Spain, with just 9,000 people employed in the industry against "30,000 in Asturias alone" 20 years ago.
Ms Alonso, who accompanied the miners on the trek, said the experience had been "utterly unique - to see how people help each other, it's been moving."
The government has also slashed spending for miners to learn new professions and removed school grants that had been paid to children in the predominantly poor mining areas.
Coalminers in Spain earn an average €1,200 (£950) a month.
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