Representatives of trade unions in the state of Alicante and those in charge of the Ministry of Labor of the Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante met at Elche to “dialogue and build bridges” to jointly address business situations. In particular, precarity such as “the bloody accident rate and workplace deaths” and its repercussions on the health and life of working people, according to Jesús Fernández-Pacheco, director of Pastoral Work in the diocese.
The meeting brought together the general secretaries of the Workers’ Commissions (CC OO) and the General Union of Workers (UGT), and those responsible for Occupational Health, with the director of Pastoral del Trabajo and representatives of the movements that make up it: Hermandad Obrera de Acción Catholic (HOAC), Young Person in charge of Christian Workers (JOC) and Cáritas Diocesana Recruitment.
Stating that in this meeting, the impressions of the job insecurity they had announced from the Diocese were shared, A common concern for alarming work-related accidents and deaths at work in the Community of Valencia. “These are not isolated cases, but the result of not betting on a decent job that brings people dignity: that should be our goal,” confirms Jesús Fernández.
“Making it visible, raising awareness and reporting workplace deaths should be a priority for the Church as well as for unions., because life is the greatest good we have. That’s why we’re interested in protecting it as we develop our business,” adds Jesús Fernández, responsible for the diocese.
These meetings from Alicante unions and Pastoral del Trabajo are valuable to accompany families of occupational accident victims and start ways together to make this serious issue visible, raise awareness and condemn it.