The unions calling for the public sector strike ask for a meeting at the CRL

2023-10-12 15:12:11

The unions that have called for two days of strike in the public sector –ELA, LAB, CC OO, Steilas, Satse and ESK– have requested a meeting for this Monday at the Basque Labor Relations Council (CRL) who they consider responsible for the working conditions of the 150,000 workers dependent on the administration: Basque Government, the association of Eudel municipalities, the three provincial councils and the Government delegate in Euskadi, Denis Itxaso. The centers have also invited the political parties that obtained representation in the Basque Country in the last state elections on July 23.

It is no coincidence that the calling unions – practically all of them except UGT, which is critical of the strike – make this call on Columbus Day, since the nationalist confederations usually intensify their activity that day. Furthermore, one of the main demands is that the conditions of public sector workers be negotiated in Euskadi and not in Madrid. The Basque Government argues that matters such as salary increases are established by basic legislation and there is no room for improvement. Thus, this year the increase is 3%, although it is possible to reach 3.5%.

The Public Governance department, headed by Olatz Garamendi, has not yet responded to the call. This same Tuesday there was a meeting of the Basque Public Service Board without any progress being made that would allow the negotiation to be unblocked. “The Basque Government, once again, renounces its powers and will follow the guidelines set by Madrid,” the unions said at the exit.

The unions demand the recovery of lost purchasing power, which they quantify at 20% since 2009, with a salary increase of 10% in the next Budgets; consolidation plans to reduce real temporary employment below 8% and other demands such as not carrying out new privatizations.

The Lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu, has been very critical of this strike and considers that the nationalist left is using it to wear down the Basque Government and transmit a “catastrophic” image of public services. He has recalled on several occasions that Basque civil servants earn more than workers in the private sector and those in the General State Administration.