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First Legal Union of Illegal Street Vendors Created In Barcelona

Posted by samzenpus on from the join-the-guild dept.

dkatana writes: Street vendors across Barcelona's tourist districts last week created their own union to negotiate with city officials. Barcelona has a new mayor, and new policies dealing with the "Top Manta" (for the blankets — or mantas — they spread out on the sidewalk). The recently-elected left-leaning administration in this Mediterranean city is taking a new — and controversial — approach to this complex issue. They argue that the real fault is the government's for not having a more comprehensive immigration policy. Mayor Ada Colau has welcomed the newly created Popular Union for Street Vendors (Sindicato Popular de Vendedores Ambulantes), established by the illegal vendors themselves.

10 of 61 comments (clear)

  1. Taxes? by itamihn · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I, for one, welcome these street vendors. As long as they have all the permissions in order to open a business, respect trademarks, and pay taxes and rental of the space they use.

    1. Re:Taxes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      .... And products sold are not counterfeit, they give invoices of products sold, with 15 day refund option, 2 year guarantee, etc.

      It is absolutely stupid that a union of ilegals can be legal. The only place in the world for such stupidity is my country.

    2. Re:Taxes? by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 3

      In many countries, organisations can be declared illegal if the goal of that organisation is to commit illegal acts (by charter or in practice). That can be hard to prove, but it happens. Some motor clubs have been banned on those grounds. Conversely, a "guild of thieves" could well be legal if the members don't talk shop and if the organisation only has lawful goals, like legal aid to arrested thieves. (Be sure that they'd be under extreme scrutiny though). And that's as it should be: freedom of association is an important right.

      Does this union of street vendors pursue illegal goals, or are they striving for legalisation and do they wish to act as spokesperson for street vendors in discussions on the topic? It seems that it's the latter case. Setting aside the question of what the best way is to deal with these street vendors, the mayor wants to discuss this with them, and as such it makes sense to invite this union to the table.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    3. Re:Taxes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      They are just poor _illegal_ migrant, trying to sell _counterfeit_ good, _scamming_ tourists if not _robbing_ them at knife point. Expecting them for respect the locals, their laws and customs is ignorant of the conditions they come from, oppressive and almost racist. Shame on you!

      OK, I can agree with most of what you said here, but claiming we're ignorant of the conditions they came from is fucking offensive. Countries are breaking their own laws to accept these people from war-ravaged nations or States of massive oppression. Believe me we know damn well of the conditions, and you can't break reporting enough to bias that into a mere nothing. Instead of focusing on the conditions they came from, how about we start waking up as to the conditions they're going to create in the aftermath. Governments certainly are at this point.

      As far as bringing along laws, well...you move to another country, you better learn to adapt. The entire justification of relocation at the macro level is because where they are leaving from is 100 times worse in just about every aspect. Don't complain. Laws are being broken by governments to assist you. Customs most countries will try and accommodate as long as they don't become intolerant of the interference it may cause.

      The key here is learn to adapt. Especially if you want to stay.

    4. Re:Taxes? by dargaud · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It reminds me of prostitution in my country: it's illegal, but there's the professional category for when you declare your taxes. So it's illegal but perfectly taxed. Talk about state hypocrisy. I don't know about pimp though.

      --
      Non-Linux Penguins ?
    5. Re:Taxes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      This is what you heard every day since the migrant crisis went mainstream. You want to do background check on each individual? HOW DARE YOU BE INSENSITIVE TO THE CONDITION THEY COME FROM. THESE ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN! DID YOU HEARD THERE ARE WOMEN? WOMEN I SAID!

      Yes, it's like yelling. But this is how it goes. Then they shout 'racist' this, 'xenophobe' that...

  2. Barcelona == marxists by benjfowler · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You gotta remember that the Catalans keep electing left-wing lunatics into the Generalitat and into the city government, so they're always doing crazy stuff like that.

    While the national government has a generally sensible policy of "not feeding the pigeons" with respect to illegals, the local government has always been full of ex-Communist and ex-Black Bloc lunatics.

    The other stupid thing they do? They see robbers, pickpockets and scammers (the majority who are foreign criminals) as "victims", and never prosecute them. They just fine them and throw them back out onto the street. Result? Some of the highest rates of street crime of any major city on Earth, which threatens to destroy Barcelona's one big earner -- the tourist and conference trade.

    The left-wingers don't care though: anybody who isn't white or local is a "victim", and therefore shouldn't be held accountable for their actions. The ironic racism of low expectations for brown people...

  3. Re:Why? by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 2

    Because it's kinda sorta an Über thing . . . do something illegal, and then blame the government because it is not legal.

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    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  4. what?! by bobaferret · · Score: 2

    You mean they couldn't get married before now?

  5. Re:Europe rocks over USA, China and Russia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It **is** happening in the USA.

    12M illegal immigrants are "negotiating" with current politicians about being recognized, so they won't be deported if caught. All those people haven't been paying the same (if any) taxes all these years and have been living in an underground, cash-based, subculture inside the USA.

    I realize they are economic refuges in search of a better life, but that doesn't make their being in the USA legal. 100K+ immigrants are allowed legally into the USA annually. They filed the paperwork, passed the background checks, and were admitted legally. FANTASTIC! We love legal immigrants here. My neighbors are 1st generation LEGAL immigrants from Ukraine and India. Nice, hardworking, folks. I'm a 4th generation LEGAL immigrant. It is only the illegal immigrants who bother me.