Catalan union Intersindical-CSC has called a general strike for the 11th October this year, running the whole day and around the whole of Catalonia. The plan was announced publicly by employers' association Pimec, which has sent its members notice of the plan and advice for companies.

The union lists a number of reasons for the strike: to call for the repealing of employment and social security legislative reforms, a minimum wage of 1,200€ a month (£1,060; $1,310) and an Inspectorate of Work with sufficient resources; to support gender equality in the workplace and an end to the wage gap; to promote a recovery and guarantee of the purchasing power of wages and pensions.

As such, although it will come the week the Supreme Court is expected to release its verdicts in the case against 12 civil and political pro-independence leaders following the 2017 independence push, the union doesn't state a political motive for this new strike. On the other hand, it was previously involved, for example, in organising the "general standstill" on 3rd October 2017 in response to the police's suppression of the referendum two days earlier and the strike on 21st February this year in response to the trial in the Supreme Court.

The strike was registered today with the Catalan work, social affairs and families department, which will have to set minimum service requirements for the day, as well as with Pimec and Foment de Treball. According to Pimec, for those companies with continuous shifts, the strike will begin at the start of the night shift on 10th October and finish at the end of the afternoon shift the next day.

Update: Since the publication of this article, the unions involved have decided to postpone the action until 18th October.