Negotiations over the national shoe industry agreement have moved forward, with both employers and unions presenting clear positions after months of deadlock. A proposal was submitted through the Interfederal Mediation and Arbitration Service (SIMA). It includes a salary guarantee clause tied to the consumer price index, capped at 15 percent. Both sides were asked to respond by December 27 after consulting their respective assemblies. Employers appear ready to sign, while unions remain more hesitant.
Negotiating a shoe industry pact is inherently challenging. In Alicante, the sector employs about 16,500 workers, and the central dispute continues to center on wage demands. The unions CC OO and UGT insist on a review clause that would ensure wage growth keeps pace with inflation so that purchasing power is preserved. Employers have shown openness to such a review, indicating a potential increase ranging from 12.5 to 15 percent by 2025, albeit with a cap of 2.5 percent. The December 2 discussions ended with cautious momentum but then required renewed talks due to unresolved issues.
Earlier this week, the two sides met again in Madrid, with SIMA representatives present. The discussions yielded a preliminary rapprochement but did not produce substantive progress. The main elements proposed include a 4 percent salary increase for 2022 and the same increase for 2023, followed by 2.5 percent in 2024 and 2 percent in 2025, with these raises accruing from July 1. The total comes to 12.5 percent. A wage guarantee clause was also proposed to ensure full CPI alignment, provided inflation does not exceed 15 percent; if inflation rises further, an additional 0.50 percent may be applied in two installments.
The package also envisions a reduction of the annual workday to 12 hours during the four-year term, while the contract retains indefinite ultra-activity. It proposes removing the requirement to justify two of the four days of unpaid leave and includes advances on equality and remote work. There would be alignment with the current pension system to ensure the loyalty reward remains practical and usable, along with related accumulations.
Despite the apparent feasibility of the proposal, both sides were given a deadline to respond by December 27. José María Escrigas, the business representative at the talks, called the plan feasible in principle and expressed willingness to sign if the other party accepts the terms. He remarked that the proposal aligns well with the business approach and that acceptance by the other side is likely. [Attribution: SIMA mediation communications]
Unions and employers test resolve over wage expectations
There is growing skepticism among the unions. The general secretary of the UGT in La Muntanya, Vinalopó and Vega Baja, İsmail Şenent, noted that the salary increase remains a central issue. He stressed that current industry wages are low and warned against any erosion of purchasing power. The risk of inflation outpacing wage growth remains a concern for workers as assemblies prepare to decide the next step.
CC OO and UGT suspend mobilizations
In a move to reduce immediate pressure on negotiations, CC OO and UGT suspended planned mobilizations after a proposal from the SIMA on Tuesday. The worker assemblies will determine whether the agreement will be signed or if the dispute will continue to unfold.