9/22/04: Thousands of Spanish shipyard workers from the state-owned Spanish shipbuilding group Izar have blockaded railways and roads over the past week in an ongoing battle against privatization. According to reports, anti-riot police have clashed with the workers, leaving dozens slightly injured. Amid growing unrest against a restructuring plan which threatens thousands of jobs and sparked wildcat strikes, Spanish unions have demanded that the plan be shelved. Strikes are set for September 28 and 30 as the issue comes to a boil in what is the first major test of industrial relations for Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Izar, which employs 11,000 people, is exposed to fierce competition from Asia, and now faces bankruptcy after the European Commission demanded that it repay more than 300 million euros in aid which Brussels says breached EU competition rules. Photos and reports: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5