The Ministry of Finance and Public Administration is urging unions to start negotiations with a concrete timetable in hand. Officials signal a readiness to press for a salary increase within the public administrations in the upcoming round of budget deliberations. The first negotiating session is scheduled for next Wednesday, according to sources within CSIF and other union ranks, who view the move as an early triumph in a broader campaign that has seen intensified union activity in recent months. The mobilization planned for Saturday is framed as part of a sustained effort to secure wage adjustments and better working conditions across the entire public sector, reflecting a shared sense of urgency about rising living costs and aging infrastructure that affect public service delivery.
On the matter of price pressures, CSIF stresses the necessity of retroactive salary updates dating back to January 1, 2022. The argument centers on restoring purchasing power that has been eroded over time, tied to a framework agreement designed to span multiple years. Such an agreement would gradually offset the sustained decline in purchasing power experienced by public employees since 2010, a cumulative loss that union tallies place at around twenty percent due to prior salary reductions during the last financial crisis. Negotiations are expected to include a broad set of proposals aimed at improving working conditions, not merely securing higher pay. The unions contend that stability and fair compensation are crucial to maintaining high-quality public service and morale, especially in an environment marked by rising costs and heavier workloads. The goal is to create a durable, predictable structure that supports long-term workforce planning and reduces turnover, while balancing fiscal responsibility with the core public interest. [attribution: CSIF]
A public demonstration focused on civil servant improvements is organized for next Saturday in Madrid. The rally will mobilize hundreds of coaches ferried from across provinces to illustrate the impact of the current economic climate on both private and public sectors. Organizers emphasize that salary updates, pension conditions, and the quality of public services are interconnected issues, and the protest aims to place them squarely on the political agenda. The scale of transportation arrangements underscores the breadth of support behind the call and signals a broad expectation that government negotiations will deliver concrete commitments in the near term. The demonstration also seeks to highlight the essential role that public workers play in maintaining essential services, from healthcare and education to municipal administration, especially during periods of fiscal tightening and rising inflation. [attribution: CSIF]