The unions representing thousands of workers have launched a blistering attack after being told details of what "minimum services" they are required to provide, meaning not everyone can walk out today and Good Friday.

By law, the government says strikes have to provide a minimum level of certain services and have officially released a list of these to the unions who totally disagree.

The government has laid down this criteria:

Floors and cleaning: 1 cleaning checkpoint per establishment and day: 15% staff per shift and day.

Reception and Concierge: 25% of staff per establishment, shift and day (minimum 1 per shift).

Maintenance: 25% of staff per establishment, shift and day (specifying the functions

Restaurants: guarantee each day of strike the assembly of 1 buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the guests staying: minimum 15% of staff per establishment, shift and day.

Kitchen: minimum 15% of the workforce per establishment, shift and day

Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) has announced that it will appeal these minimum services to the courts on the grounds that it violates the right to strike, since the tourism industry is not an essential activity.

The tourism employers' association, formed by Ashotel and AERO, had offered a four per cent increase with 2.25 per cent of this backdated to January.

The unions say this is a "pittance" and want 6.25 per cent.

They say the strike will be "massive" and has a lot of support, not only among workers but also from the Canarian society "which has said enough and demanded that the profits from the tourism sector be reflected in issues such as healthcare, education, housing and roads."

Thousands of tourists are expected to be hit by the strike action and there are calls for bus and taxi drivers to join in which would increase the disruption.

This morning, an official warning about the Tenerife industrial action was released by the UK government.