The protests called for this 11 November on the occasion of the general strike day have clearly been affected by the passage of the storm Charles through Andalusia. The intense gusts of wind and rain have led CCOO and UGT to cancel the marches planned for the afternoon in Cádiz, Huelva, Seville and Córdoba. In contrast, the demonstrations scheduled in Almería, Granada, Jaén and Málaga have been maintained and have developed normally despite the bad weather.
The west of Andalusia has been the area most hit by the storm, especially during the afternoon, when the storm intensified, according to data compiled by Europa Press. By contrast, in Almería, where the weather has allowed the call to be maintained, the march brought together around 2,200 people, according to the National Police. The demonstration started at 17:15 in the Plaza de las Velas and continued along Reina Regente, Ribera de las Almadrabillas, Plaza Emilio Pérez and the avenue Federico García Lorca, in the opposite direction to traffic, until Murcia Street, to conclude at the Anfiteatro de la Rambla around 19:30.
In the Cádiz capital, where UGT and CCOO have decided to call off the strike, the Tenants’ Union, which also promoted the strike day, has opted to postpone the mobilization to Sunday 15 November at 12:00. In Rota and La Línea de la Concepción, where marches had also been set for 18:00, the organizers have announced their suspension due to poor weather conditions.
Despite these cancellations, the Tenants’ Union stressed that “more than 2,000 people” have walked through the streets of the Cádiz capital during the morning in what it has defined as “a historic day of struggle for housing, wages and public services”.
In Córdoba, CCOO and UGT have also opted to cancel the demonstration planned due to the storm associated with the storm “Charles”. Nevertheless, from UGT they indicated that, as in Cádiz, it is being considered to postpone the march to the next Sunday at 12:00, respecting the itinerary initially planned for this Wednesday.
Alarm over a suspicious suitcase in the Granada protest
In Granada, the appearance of an abandoned suitcase on a nearby bus stop near Plaza del Carmen, in the very center, has forced the advance of the demonstration called by the unions for the occasion of the general strike to be temporarily halted. In view of this situation, agents of the Policía Nacional have activated the security protocol and cordoned off the area in order to preserve public safety. A team from Tedax has moved to the site to inspect the luggage and rule out the presence of any explosive device.
The police operation has forced the march to be stopped momentarily, which had set off from the Jardines del Triunfo. Both this mobilization driven by CCOO and UGT and the one organized by the Sinidcato de Vivienda have taken place on a day marked by rain and strong gusts of wind in the Granadian capital.
Most of the calling trade union organizations, with CCOO and UGT at the head, have estimated a 70% follow-through of the general strike in the province. Their demonstration through the city center has been led by a banner with the slogan: "General Strike 11N: for housing, for wages, and for public services".
In the province of Huelva, as in Cádiz, all mobilizations scheduled in connection with the general strike have been suspended due to forecasts of heavy rain and wind.
In Jaén, the unions have described the provincial demonstration as a "historic success," which has brought together hundreds of people under the slogan of a society "united against precariousness and the loss of rights." The march set out at 17:30 from Plaza de Jaén por la Paz and went along the Paseo de la Estación, Cid Campeador, Plaza de la Libertad, Pío XII, Avenida de Madrid, and Calle Virgen de la Cabeza, until it ended in Plaza Empresario Diego Torres, next to El Corte Inglés.
Sea of umbrellas in Málaga and alternative marches in Seville
In Málaga city, more than 50,000 people, according to CCOO, have taken part in a mass demonstration that has been carried out peacefully despite the rain. The march, which marked the end of the general strike workday, has gone along the Paseo del Parque, from the fountain of the Tres Gracias to the bridge of the Américas, in a stretch in which the umbrellas have filled a multitudinous protest with color, with the presence of people of all ages, from children to older adults, in a claim-making and festive atmosphere.
The mobilization has required measures to facilitate access to housing, improve wages, strengthen public services, and contain prices. During the route, slogans such as "We have the right to have a roof," "Málaga to live in and not to survive," and "Under the bridge there isn’t room for so many people" have been heard.
Lastly, in Seville city, despite the suspension of the marches promoted by CCOO and UGT, other organizations, such as the Sindicato de Inquilinas and the CGT, have maintained their calls and have participated in a demonstration that has crossed the city center since 18:00 hours. The march set off from Prado de San Sebastián and continued along Menéndez Pelayo, Recaredo, and Puerta Osario until it concluded at the Setas de la Encarnación.