Javier Pacheco Serradilla, born in Barcelona in 1970, urges governments to act with greater urgency during the CPI crisis. As the general secretary of a major Catalan workers’ federation, he frames a temporary intervention in key sectors of the economy as a constitutional necessity to ensure that people can eat and make ends meet. He critiques the government for appearing to have faded from the CPI crisis and cautions that the situation already affects thousands of families, not just in autumn but right now.
-Bread is more expensive, gasoline is pricier… Will the federation push for higher wages for its members?
-We are working on it. We have an agreed monthly contribution tied to salaries, with discussions across sections. We are examining how to implement changes because inflation does not affect every member in identical ways. Adjusting allocations is one avenue. September will bring discussions, considering the January membership increase. Yet the aim remains clear: preserve purchasing power and avoid forcing people to sacrifice earnings or membership fees. The organization is not a profit-driven corporation.
-How does the association interpret the inflation crisis in its member data?
-The crisis has already left a visible brake on activity, compounded by COVID-19. Even with a growing workforce, monthly spending decisions have shifted as thousands lose purchasing power. Many productive sectors are in transition, with some highly productive areas facing layoffs, such as the automotive and financial sectors. This translates into a decline in membership and participation.
– Half of large companies see rising profits while member fees lag behind inflation. Why is this happening?
-A patronage culture has sustained the inertia of the financial crisis, allowing profit margins to widen as rent-seeking persists in a productive economy. If wages do not rise, domestic demand will falter and sales will drop. The solution lies in strengthening collective bargaining, not merely for justice but because a sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 shock depends on a healthier rhythm in the economy.
Do governments view it the same way?
Clearer messaging from administrations is needed. Treating inflation as a sign of national impoverishment is a strategic mistake that could spark wider trouble. When the finance minister suggests delaying changes to tax collection and pursuing income agreements on limiting salaries and aid to businesses, the message risks feeding economic decline. Workforce development also calls for a broader view that looks beyond elites to the entire population.
How should the government intervene to control inflation?
Rebalancing rents by curbing price hikes is essential. The state must find ways to collect more from the highest earners and redistribute to the most vulnerable while ensuring wages rise. There is no demand for radical shifts, just a practical boost to workers’ purchasing power. A sense of urgency is needed; past measures, including marginal price adjustments, have proven insufficient.
Should the government cap food prices?
Yes. A targeted cap on basic food items in the shopping basket can be enacted to counter double-digit inflation without requiring permanent Brussels-level interventions. If not, what happened with rent controls that limited increases to a modest rate? Temporary intervention to protect public welfare is legitimate, grounded in constitutional principles that place the general interest above individual profit during a crisis.
– Without these reforms, will the federation sign a revenue agreement?
The government abandoned a successful pandemic-era path of social dialogue and shifted to abrupt political maneuvers ahead of elections. Suggestions offered so far deserve consideration, but a clear, binding revenue agreement is still needed to curb inflation. If protections remain weak, voters will increasingly seek alternatives when purchasing power continues to erode.
– How should state intervention be organized? The Catalan government?
The region’s administration has largely receded from the spotlight. What happened to the promised measures and the economic commission that was to monitor the situation? Delays in convening meetings and a lack of engagement from departments have left the most vulnerable exposed. The current framework lacks the authority of the state, so at minimum the government should focus on concrete relief for those most in need. The minimum income and related programs have not been reassessed in light of recent price spikes, leaving gaps in support.
– Is it acceptable to drop inheritance and estate taxes proposed by the coalition?
Scaling back welfare provisions would undermine the social safety net. The trend toward privatizing primary health care and expanding private insurance has weakened the public framework that once supported broad protection. The aim should be to strengthen, not dismantle, a system that serves many people’s needs.
-Is an autumn as complex as some predict?
Spring already presented complexity, and summer followed with heightened strain on those already struggling to end the month with dignity. A larger portion of society is rethinking discretionary spending, while reports from the European Trade Union Confederation indicate millions of workers cannot take time off for holidays. If purchasing power continues to erode, consumer demand could stall the economy. The trajectory is hard to measure, but without decisive action using the tools at hand, a downturn could intensify.