The government entered through the back door royal decree reforming unemployment benefits Implementation priority of regional agreements over state and sectoral agreements, which Pedro Sánchez promised to PNV in the investment agreement with this entity. The UGT and CC OO unions, as well as the employers’ associations CEOE and Cepyme, criticized the measure for not being negotiated within the framework of social dialogue. Business organizations went further and in a joint statement, also supported by the Asturian employers’ association FADE, said: They accused Pedro Sánchez Government of “lack of loyalty”.
This issue was not reported at the press conference following the Cabinet meeting that approved the subsidy reform and was attended by the second vice president and Minister of Labor Yolanda Díaz; Félix Bolaños, Minister of the Presidency; Government spokesperson and Minister of Education Pilar Alegría and Minister of Health Mónica García. It was PNV’s Congress spokesman, Aitor Esteban, who announced on Tuesday that this issue had been approved in the Council of Ministers. And indeed Yesterday’s BOE rule on reforming unemployment benefits includes regional agreements being prevalent over sectoral and state agreementsAlthough it is “conditional” that its implementation is more favorable for workers than established in state contracts or agreements.
As explained by the Government in the explanatory statement of the decree approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, an amendment to Article 84 of the consolidated text of the Labor Code has been added “with the aim of improving regulations in the field of collective bargaining”. “To ensure that autonomous communities implement the most appropriate agreements and contracts for workers”. In particular, with the amendment introduced, it should be noted that: Government ‘continues to clarify’ current regulation So much so that, preserving the requirement that regional agreements and agreements must be signed by legally legitimized persons and the possible limitation of regulation of some matters, “those agreements and agreements signed at the regional level will have priority in implementation over all other sectoral agreements or agreements.” “Provided that the contracts and agreements in question receive the support of the majority required to form the negotiation commission in the relevant negotiation unit.”
The predominance of regional agreements over sectoral agreements was a measure excluded from the 2021 labor reform but was included in the nationalists’ agreement with the PSOE for the appointment of Pedro Sánchez. Approval of this measure according to Aitor Esteban The working class has “long demanded” and unions in Euskadi. “It expands what we often call one’s framework of relationships.” The Basque spokesman emphasized.
UGT and CC OO do not like this measure, which was pointed out yesterday that the collective bargaining structure should be considered within the framework of social dialogue, a change that is not taken into account within the scope of labor reform.
CEOE and Cepyme employers said in their joint statement: “Complete rejection of regional agreements prevailing over national or company agreements, ratified without prior notice and with disregard for social dialogue”. Emphasizing that the Constitution includes the authority to consult social actors on “changes of this magnitude in collective bargaining”, the officials emphasized that these are changes that “we also agreed not to include in the last labor reform we agreed on”. CEOE and Cepyme added that the measure “attacks market unity at the national level” and that the Government’s maneuver “shows the lack of loyalty and trust necessary for social dialogue.” Asturian employers’ association FADE also stuck to this statement.
UGT-FICA to negotiate on reduction of working hours in Asturian metal
Jenaro Martínez, secretary general of UGT-FICA Asturias, is counting on the immediate start of negotiations on new construction, automobile and metal agreements that have expired in Asturias. As for the metal issue, which affects 25,000 workers in the region, he announced that the union will demand a wage increase in accordance with the agreement reached on employment and collective bargaining (3%), hoping for a situation to be formed in January. and improvements such as reducing the working day, which “has been 1,736 hours a year for 20 years.” Yesterday UGT-FICA Asturias VI. Martínez, who chairs the Regional Committee, emphasized that there are 4,000 unemployed people “who want to work” in the metal and construction industry, and in response to the objections of the business world about the lack of qualified labor, he noted: “We must stop crying and produce solutions. Employment needs must be digitized and workers must be qualified,” he said. The UGT-FICA leader demanded that ArcelorMittal “confirm” the investment in the Gijón iron ore direct reduction plant, which is “fundamental to guarantee the future of the steel industry in Asturias.” “It’s delaying more than necessary,” he warned.