The consequences of indefinite strike maintained by the workers of the Sports Facilities service of the Zaragoza City Council is making a dent in attracting national events. The consequences of the stoppages affect beyond the limits of the Aragonese capital, since there are teams from other Spanish cities that have not been able to come to compete in case they found the pavilions closed. It has already happened with judo and line hockey.
In the case of this second sport, inline hockey, it was planned that the next April 9 and 10 would be played in Zaragoza, in the San Juan de Mozarrifar pavilion, the Spanish children’s championship of this specialty. Eight teams from all over Spain were going to participate in the tournament, even coming from the Balearic Islands, but the uncertainty about the opening of the facilities has caused the event to be moved. And not close. The competition will take place in Lugo.
«It has been a nuisance because it costs a lot to bring this type of event. Aragón is one of the communities that has later joined this sport, so it was an achievement that the Royal Spanish Skating Federation accepted our proposal,” he says. Carlos Garcia Tabuencasports director of the Linea Zaragoza All-Stars Hockey Club.
«We asked for the space and they granted it to us and when I found out about the strike I wrote to the city council so that they could try to solve the situation. But they have not answered me, “adds García. With the transfer of the tournament to Lugo, “the Aragonese sport loses visibility” and, in addition, the young athletes of the Zaragoza club will have to spend “between 250 and 300 euros” to be present in the competition. “It’s a shame because the San Juan de Mozarrifar track is one of the best in Spain»he assures.
And something similar has happened with a judo competition. The Spanish championship in the junior category should have been held on March 26 at the Monzalbarba municipal sports center, but it had to be moved to San Mateo de Gállego due to the fear that the facilities were closed. About 500 people were going to attend, including participants, officials and companions.
Worker Support
“We observed that, despite the professionalism of the workers (from the Sports Facilities service), manifested over a long period of time, the lack of personnel has motivated the call for this strikeafter a long time denouncing this precarious situation”, reads a statement signed by the president of the Aragonese Judo Federation, Jose Angel Iron.
“We hope that, immediately, the appropriate measures will be adopted to guarantee the correct coverage of personnel in these facilities,” continues the text, also sent to municipal officials. According to Hierro, the events organized by the judo federation in Zaragoza they report income valued at more than 500,000 euros per year.
The meeting between the strike committee and PP-Cs this Tuesday has ended without an agreement, although the consistory reports that it was “cordial”
With regard to other competitions, such as handball and fencing, they have also had to look for new venues, although they have remained in Zaragoza, which does not detract from the inconvenience of having to find alternatives with the competition underway.
Meanwhile, the service’s strike committee and three councilors from the government team of PP and Cs (Cristina Garcia, Angel Loren and Alfonso Mendoza) met again this Tuesday after having requested it in writing on Monday from the workers’ representatives. The meeting was “cordial”, according to the political party, although both affirm that there has been no progress in the negotiation.
The strike continues, therefore, called indefinitely. Stoppages take place on Saturdays and Sundays in the morning and afternoon.
