Spanish government rejects pact

Following their first meeting in 19 months with the leader of the Spanish centre-right government of Mariano Rajoy, the leaders of Spain’s two main union confederations, CCOO and UGT have expressed disappointment over the government’s unwillingness to consider a national pact to tackle the country’s mounting unemployment.

UGT general secretary Cándido Méndez said that “we profoundly regret this”.