Spain's 1988 general strike took place on December 14, and therefore in Spain it is simply called 14-D (shortened form of 14 Diciembre; Cf. N30). Triggered by a small reform in the labour market, namely a new more flexible contract for unexperienced youngsters with less redundancy pay, the strike was moreover a manifestation of general discontent with Spain's socialist government policies. The government's economic policies were thought to be too conservative by trade unions and many left-wing voters. The country was completely and peacefully paralyzed for 24 hours, prompting the government to negotiate with the unions. That flexible contract was retired and welfare state was increased. However, the strike did not prevent a third absolute majority by the socialist party, whose leader, Felipe Gonzalez, remained popular. December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms which refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially in the American sense of the word), or with opposition... Felipe González Márquez (March 5, 1942). ...

Consequences of the 14-D strike

Some economists believe the strike was to blame for a large increase in public spending, which led to an increase in the budget deficit. Others prefer to blame public spending in the 1992 Olympic Games held in Barcelona, the 1992 world fair in Seville, plus the first high-speed train, for the large budget deficit. The budget deficit led to spending cuts which, coupled with a tough monetary policy, led to a recession in 1993. Economists are scholars conducting research in the field of economics. ... A budget deficit occurs when an entity (often a government) spends more money than it takes in. ... A budget deficit occurs when an entity (often a government) spends more money than it takes in. ... A budget deficit occurs when an entity (often a government) spends more money than it takes in. ... A recession is usually defined in macroeconomics as a fall of a countrys real Gross Domestic Product in two or more successive quarters of a year. ...

Other important general strikes in modern Spain

• 1984 strike: only called by CC.OO., one of the two main unions, against reforms in the pension system.
• 1993 strike: against labour market reforms.
• 2002 strike: against Spanish involvement in the second Gulf war.

Use of 14-D in other strikes

Some minority unions, including the students' union, the anarchist union, CNT, and the second largest teachers' union, STEC, called a strike in the educational sector for 14-D, 2005 to use the symbolic power of 14-D as a strike called by the left against a socialist government and to protest a new education law which they thought gave too much money to private schools, which are mostly Catholic, in Spain. The strike had limited success due to lack of support from other unions. The largest Students Union building at Oklahoma State University, which doubles as a student activity center (student union in the USA) A students union, student government, or student council is a student organization present at many colleges and universities, often with its own building on the campus, dedicated to social...