The World - News from Dec. 15, 1988

A nationwide strike paralyzed Spain, halting work at major industries, closing state offices and choking public transportation to a trickle. Union leaders called Spain’s first general strike in 54 years a “complete success.” Police reported sporadic violence and made at least 30 arrests. Jose Manuel de la Parra, spokesman for the Communist-dominated Workers Commissions, said the strike succeeded “beyond our greatest expectations.” The nation’s leftist unions called the strike to force Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez’s six-year-old government to change its economic policies and meet demands for wage increases and unemployment benefits.