The Port of Pasaia has launched the judicial procedures for the eviction of the nine families residing in Escalerillas, and five of them have already been informed of the date of the trial against them, which will be held on June 30 in San Sebastián (Gipuzkoa). In this regard, the Socialist Housing Union of the Basque Country has launched a mobilisation call for this day: at 09:30 a.m., it has called on the San Sebastián court to demand that the Port of Pasaia suspend the dismissal processes and demand a housing alternative for all the residents of Escalerillas.

These families have been living in the housing block of Escalerillas for more than 50 years and the Port of Pasaia is the legal owner of the houses. Now, however, they want to build a rail line to transport goods from there, and they want to demolish the housing block and evict nine families for it.

"Most of the affected families have not received adequate housing alternatives," the Socialist Housing Union denounces: "The Port of Pasaia has not offered them alternatives of housing or economic compensation, but threats of eviction." Three families have been “offered ridiculous indemnities” from the port authority, “or moved to certain dwellings where other people currently live.” "The alternative proposed by the port is to evict more families," the union says.

The neighbors, together with the Socialist Housing Union of the Basque Country, demand that the port stop the eviction procedures and immediately open a negotiating table. "If there are millions of euros for infrastructure for the benefit of a private company, there must also be resources to guarantee the future of those who are currently at risk of homelessness," they added.

Private interests and institutional responsibility

"The new railway, which is the pretext for the demolition of Escalerillas, is a work financed with public funds from the Basque Government. The infrastructure, however, responds to a completely private logic: Reduce the logistical costs of the company Algeposa", denounces the Socialist Housing Union. It condemns the fact that "public money is being used" to "defend business interests at the expense of endangering the housing rights of those who have maintained the port's activity for years."

However, in addition to private interests, the union has also pointed out a variety of "institutional responsibilities". First of all, he stressed the responsibility of the City Council of Pasaia (EH Bila), because it is "the one who wants to demolish the houses and is directly responsible for the evictions"; but also the responsibility of the Basque Railway Network, which is "responsible for the construction of the railway on the Escalerillas plot".

More than a year and a half of struggle

The residents of Escalerillas, led by the Socialist Housing Union, began the struggle more than a year and a half ago. Proof of this are the continuous assemblies, solidarity days, protests, the mass demonstration held in Pasaia in June last year, some 2,000 signatures gathered to demand a solution, the motion presented in the city council, etc.