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| In Jerez, sherry and flamenco has turned to soup and indignados | In Jerez, sherry and flamenco has turned to soup and indignados |
| (10 days later) | |
| Ana Candón has not been paid since December. The 50-year-old home help, who works for social services with elderly and infirm people, and her mostly female co-workers, are now owed five months' pay, about €4,000 (£3,490). | Ana Candón has not been paid since December. The 50-year-old home help, who works for social services with elderly and infirm people, and her mostly female co-workers, are now owed five months' pay, about €4,000 (£3,490). |
| "Many workmates have lost their houses, so as well as working for the social services they now depend on them too," Candón says. | "Many workmates have lost their houses, so as well as working for the social services they now depend on them too," Candón says. |
| Candon works in Jerez de la Frontera, southern Spain, a city with a population of 215,000, famous overseas for its sherry and flamenco festivals (below) but notorious in Spain for its crushing debts amounting to more than €1bn. | Candon works in Jerez de la Frontera, southern Spain, a city with a population of 215,000, famous overseas for its sherry and flamenco festivals (below) but notorious in Spain for its crushing debts amounting to more than €1bn. |
| The council is attempting to balance its budget by slashing wages, jobs and services. But more redundancies are due and many employees, like Julian Calvo, a police officer, are paid in dribs and drabs, as and when the town hall has money in its coffers. | The council is attempting to balance its budget by slashing wages, jobs and services. But more redundancies are due and many employees, like Julian Calvo, a police officer, are paid in dribs and drabs, as and when the town hall has money in its coffers. |
| "I've been paid €450 for last month," says 47-year-old Calvo, who has a partner and a nine-year-old son. "The priority is the mortgage, because you can't fob off the bank. How do we live? With help from friends and family, granny's pension, and punishing the plastic." | "I've been paid €450 for last month," says 47-year-old Calvo, who has a partner and a nine-year-old son. "The priority is the mortgage, because you can't fob off the bank. How do we live? With help from friends and family, granny's pension, and punishing the plastic." |
| The eurozone crisis has taken a hefty toll on jobs. Across the single currency region, 12% are out of work now. | The eurozone crisis has taken a hefty toll on jobs. Across the single currency region, 12% are out of work now. |
| In Spain, the worst-hit country in the zone in terms of unemployment, the jobless rate stands at 26%. | In Spain, the worst-hit country in the zone in terms of unemployment, the jobless rate stands at 26%. |
| But in Jerez de la Frontera more than 40% are now officially jobless. It could be more, because welfare benefits are halted after two years. | But in Jerez de la Frontera more than 40% are now officially jobless. It could be more, because welfare benefits are halted after two years. |
| There are queues outside charity-run soup kitchens. Those who are still in work live in fear of eviction as employers like Candón's go for months without paying wages. The editor of the local newspaper describes the city as "the vanguard of disaster". | There are queues outside charity-run soup kitchens. Those who are still in work live in fear of eviction as employers like Candón's go for months without paying wages. The editor of the local newspaper describes the city as "the vanguard of disaster". |
| Francisco Domouso, director of the local branch of the Catholic charity Caritas and an economist by profession, says: "We have an avalanche of requests to pay electricity, water and gas bills. Mortgage payments are making matters worse. It's the mother of all storms. | Francisco Domouso, director of the local branch of the Catholic charity Caritas and an economist by profession, says: "We have an avalanche of requests to pay electricity, water and gas bills. Mortgage payments are making matters worse. It's the mother of all storms. |
| "It's disheartening to open the doors and find a queue of people who need everything, but mainly support. Many are falling into despair, they see no way out." | "It's disheartening to open the doors and find a queue of people who need everything, but mainly support. Many are falling into despair, they see no way out." |
| Caritas has witnessed an 88% jump in requests for help in Jerez in a year, and the organisation estimates that "poverty has become more extensive, more intense and is getting chronic". Requests typically come from couples aged 30 to 40, with children but without jobs or income, and who are in danger of losing their homes. | Caritas has witnessed an 88% jump in requests for help in Jerez in a year, and the organisation estimates that "poverty has become more extensive, more intense and is getting chronic". Requests typically come from couples aged 30 to 40, with children but without jobs or income, and who are in danger of losing their homes. |
| As elsewhere in Spain, Jerez is littered with unfinished buildings bearing witness to a property bubble that burst in 2008. But the decline of the world-famous sherry industry has aggravated the crisis here and pushed unemployment rates in this corner of Andalusia to the highest in the country. | As elsewhere in Spain, Jerez is littered with unfinished buildings bearing witness to a property bubble that burst in 2008. But the decline of the world-famous sherry industry has aggravated the crisis here and pushed unemployment rates in this corner of Andalusia to the highest in the country. |
| In 1980, 22,000 worked for the city's sherry and brandy producers. But beer and red wine are now more popular tipples, and after 30 years of falling sales, mergers and automation, those now working for the famous drinks labels number less than 1,000. | In 1980, 22,000 worked for the city's sherry and brandy producers. But beer and red wine are now more popular tipples, and after 30 years of falling sales, mergers and automation, those now working for the famous drinks labels number less than 1,000. |
| Agriculture, too, has declined. The area once had cotton producers and sugar refineries, but they too closed. | Agriculture, too, has declined. The area once had cotton producers and sugar refineries, but they too closed. |
| The town hall is now the city's biggest employer, with 2,200 on its payroll, but it has cut public services to the bone amid austerity measures imposed by central government under pressure from the EU. Tourism offers the only short-term lifeline. | The town hall is now the city's biggest employer, with 2,200 on its payroll, but it has cut public services to the bone amid austerity measures imposed by central government under pressure from the EU. Tourism offers the only short-term lifeline. |
| Domouso says that Caritas is trying to help the unemployed by retraining electricians and surveyors to work in tourism. "It's declined but is still on its feet. Unfortunately, it's the only alternative there is," he says. | Domouso says that Caritas is trying to help the unemployed by retraining electricians and surveyors to work in tourism. "It's declined but is still on its feet. Unfortunately, it's the only alternative there is," he says. |
| Many people, he says, rely on the informal economy. "We don't approve but it's a fact. Someone says 'I'll paint your house for €200'. With that, and food from Caritas, they survive." | Many people, he says, rely on the informal economy. "We don't approve but it's a fact. Someone says 'I'll paint your house for €200'. With that, and food from Caritas, they survive." |
| Many residents are learning English in the hope of emigrating, although some see a ray of long-term hope in agribusiness – growing food and flowers, produce with which Spain is still a big international player. | Many residents are learning English in the hope of emigrating, although some see a ray of long-term hope in agribusiness – growing food and flowers, produce with which Spain is still a big international player. |
| Manuel Corrales, 44, is at risk of joining more than 400,000 Spaniards who have lost their homes since Spain went swiftly from having the eurozone's fastest rate of economic growth to suffering a prolonged slump and teetering on the brink of a bailout. | Manuel Corrales, 44, is at risk of joining more than 400,000 Spaniards who have lost their homes since Spain went swiftly from having the eurozone's fastest rate of economic growth to suffering a prolonged slump and teetering on the brink of a bailout. |
| When Corrales and his partner took out a mortgage in 2005, they both worked full-time, he as a computer technician, while she had an office job. Today, she is on the dole and he does odd jobs. The pair have been unable to meet their mortgage payments for two months and are in tense negotiations with their bank. | When Corrales and his partner took out a mortgage in 2005, they both worked full-time, he as a computer technician, while she had an office job. Today, she is on the dole and he does odd jobs. The pair have been unable to meet their mortgage payments for two months and are in tense negotiations with their bank. |
| To get help and advice Corrales has approached local members of the "indignados" movement, a group that emerged in May 2011 to protest against Spain's political system. | To get help and advice Corrales has approached local members of the "indignados" movement, a group that emerged in May 2011 to protest against Spain's political system. |
| Since their initial emblematic camp-outs across the country, the indignados have moved on to campaign against austerity measures, cuts in social spending, and mortgage foreclosures, which are impoverishing thousands of Spaniards, while banks receive multibillion euro bailouts. | Since their initial emblematic camp-outs across the country, the indignados have moved on to campaign against austerity measures, cuts in social spending, and mortgage foreclosures, which are impoverishing thousands of Spaniards, while banks receive multibillion euro bailouts. |
| A wave of suicides by people who have been evicted has fuelled public anger and led one and a half million people to sign a petition calling for the reform of mortgage laws dating back to the time of the dictator General Franco. | A wave of suicides by people who have been evicted has fuelled public anger and led one and a half million people to sign a petition calling for the reform of mortgage laws dating back to the time of the dictator General Franco. |
| Spain's parliament has agreed to consider making the petition into a bill. | Spain's parliament has agreed to consider making the petition into a bill. |
| "The first option the bank offers is to take advantage of you. They have other options, but they don't tell you," Corrales says, standing in the main square of the city. | "The first option the bank offers is to take advantage of you. They have other options, but they don't tell you," Corrales says, standing in the main square of the city. |
| "For Sale" and "To Let" signs are dotted around the square. Some of the buildings are derelict and people begging sometimes approach customers for leftover food in the almost deserted pavement cafes. | "For Sale" and "To Let" signs are dotted around the square. Some of the buildings are derelict and people begging sometimes approach customers for leftover food in the almost deserted pavement cafes. |
| Unions complain that in the recent past the council gave jobs on the nod, paying in excess of €100,000 a year (far more than the prime minister earns) and sank money into costly projects such as shopping centres – where there are now few or no shoppers. | Unions complain that in the recent past the council gave jobs on the nod, paying in excess of €100,000 a year (far more than the prime minister earns) and sank money into costly projects such as shopping centres – where there are now few or no shoppers. |
| The problem for Candón is that her employer is a non-profit organisation and it has a debt of €2.4m with the regional government of Andalusia. Even full-time workers now earn less than €800 a month – when they get paid. | The problem for Candón is that her employer is a non-profit organisation and it has a debt of €2.4m with the regional government of Andalusia. Even full-time workers now earn less than €800 a month – when they get paid. |
| Her employer has cut its workforce to 380 from 450 and is reducing the number of people it cares for too. It now tends to about 1,000 people, 500 fewer than two years ago. | Her employer has cut its workforce to 380 from 450 and is reducing the number of people it cares for too. It now tends to about 1,000 people, 500 fewer than two years ago. |
| "They want … to privatise us, so that whoever can pay will have the service, and whoever can't will go without," Candón says. | "They want … to privatise us, so that whoever can pay will have the service, and whoever can't will go without," Candón says. |
| Firefighters complain that they, too, are stretched to the limit. Jerez has 62 in its fire brigade, but only 12 are on duty at any given time to cover an area of 1,200sq km (463 square miles). | Firefighters complain that they, too, are stretched to the limit. Jerez has 62 in its fire brigade, but only 12 are on duty at any given time to cover an area of 1,200sq km (463 square miles). |
| "Politicians are lucky we haven't had to fight two fires at any given time," says José Manuel Vázquez, a firefighter. | "Politicians are lucky we haven't had to fight two fires at any given time," says José Manuel Vázquez, a firefighter. |
| Francisco Silvestre, who is the Jerez branch secretary of the CSIF union, does not see the situation in the city getting better soon. "The problem is there is no industry, and no plans to promote it. English-language schools are full up because anyone who can wants to go abroad." | Francisco Silvestre, who is the Jerez branch secretary of the CSIF union, does not see the situation in the city getting better soon. "The problem is there is no industry, and no plans to promote it. English-language schools are full up because anyone who can wants to go abroad." |
| Domouso believes agribusiness is the only answer. "We won't get any car assembly plants, but we do have the resources for agro-industry. We have the soil, superb climate and great communications. It's the only way out." | Domouso believes agribusiness is the only answer. "We won't get any car assembly plants, but we do have the resources for agro-industry. We have the soil, superb climate and great communications. It's the only way out." |
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