Discussions between the PSOE and PNV led to an agreement to reform the Workers’ Charter within six months, framed by the broader pact that supported Pedro Sánchez as Head of Government. The arrangement suggests that regional agreements could take precedence over sectoral or national accords when beneficial to workers.
For Basque nationalists, the priority of regional over sectoral agreements has long been an objective. Parties such as ERC share this orientation, similarly seeking a more prominent role in the recent labor reform pushed by Vice President and Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz. In the vote on the reform, both the PNV and ERC opposed the measure, along with EH Bildu, CUP, BNG, PP, Vox, UPN, and Foro Asturias.
As PNV leader Andoni Ortuzar noted on that Friday, the choice not to include a nationwide framework previously stalled the reform. He explained that the obstacle prevented support in the past, and affirmed that the latest agreement has removed that barrier. Ortuzar’s comments underscored the shift toward a model that accommodates autonomous agreements while maintaining coherence with national standards.
Reform
The joint statement by Sánchez and Ortuzar commits to amending Articles 84.3 and 84.4 of the Workers’ Regulations within six months. The text specifies that collective agreements and interprofessional accords negotiated within an autonomous Community under applicable law will take priority, provided they meet the required majorities and offer terms more favorable to workers than those in state or national agreements.
The agreement further clarifies that any other sectoral or state-level agreement will be subordinate so long as it does not undermine regional arrangements that are superior for workers. Yet the document also sets clear boundaries: issues deemed non-negotiable at the autonomous level will not be subject to regional bargaining. Specifically, the trial period, contract types, professional classifications, maximum working days per year, the disciplinary regime, occupational risk prevention, and minimum standards for geographic mobility remain outside regional negotiations.
The current situation
Presently, the collective bargaining system in Spain establishes that state agreements prevail unless regional frameworks are established and consented to at the national level. If a local employer federation and the most representative unions seek their own autonomous contracts, they must obtain prior authorization from national authorities. The process requires broad consensus among employers and unions, and failure to achieve agreement can lead to disputes that may escalate to legal action, as seen in recent Catalan negotiations related to geriatric care services.
UGT and CCOO call for social dialogue
Following the disclosure of the PSOE and PNV terms, the CCOO and UGT unions issued a joint statement urging that any changes to collective bargaining be addressed through social dialogue. They argued that the structure of collective bargaining directly affects the autonomy of the negotiating parties, and that any legal reforms to the Workers’ Regulations should be handled within that framework. The unions emphasized a desire for coexistence of diverse regional bargaining areas aligned with sectoral realities, while acknowledging that autonomous and state frameworks can operate in tandem. They also pointed to the potential for rationalizing provincial bargaining regions where appropriate.
The unions indicated they would urge the incoming Government to define this legal shift at the negotiation tables, noting that the issue had not been fully addressed within the current labor reform agenda. The stance from CCOO and UGT centers on ensuring that regional autonomy does not undermine the integrity of national agreements, and that any reform process remains inclusive of social partners and regional realities while preserving worker protections.