Trade unions have taken up their positions vis-à-vis Catalan independence. The large central unions, the UGT and the CCOO, which at national level back a federal and pluralist Spain, have signaled more leeway for their respective Catalan regional federations so they can set out their own stance and both the regional federations have decided to come down not on the side of ‘yes or no to independence’ but, on the side of ‘let the people decide’ via a legally recognized Catalan people’s independence referendum. Surveys suggest that almost 70% of the region’s population backs such a referendum. Independence is an issue that divides the Catalans with studies showing roughly 44% in favor and 46% again. In this report our journalist Cécile Thibaud discusses the situation facing the unions.
Pro-independence unions mobilise. Unions have become much more involved in the issue since the regional pro-independence coalition government, the Generalitat, unilaterally set an independence referendum for 01 October, in spite of central government opposition from Madrid. For the moment no official referendum convening has occurred and everything remains hypothetical but pro-independence unionists are checking out where they can rely on support and are building up their networks. “Are you a C
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