Madrid’s street sweepers and public park and garden workers have begun an indefinite strike.<br /><br />Around 6,000 employees have joined the walk-out after private companies, contracted by Madrid’s city hall planned to slash salaries by up to 40 percent and lay off more than 1,100 people.<br /><br />Angel Jornosa, one of the workers whose job is under threat said: “They are going to kick us out with a shameful severance pay. There are people who have worked 28, 30 years.”<br /><br />City hall worker, Guillermo added: “We think it’s enough, this has to end once and for all. Health, education, the city, public services in general have all gone to hell.”<br /><br />Unions are calling on the city council – run by ex Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar’s wife Ana Botella – to intervene and stop the job cuts.<br /><br />Elsewhere there was more news of job losses. The Valencian Government closed down public television and radio broadcaster RTVV.<br /><br />The company had tried to fire 1,000 of its 1,700 workers to keep the broadcaster running. A court ruled it unlawful, prompting the regional government to close the station saying it couldn’t afford to pay them.
