The message is formally addressed to all the parties that are presenting themselves in the next elections, but in reality, the main addressee is the PP and its candidate. Alberto Núñez Feijóo. CC.OO. and the UGT want him to pronounce clearly on what they are going to do, if they reach the government, with the labor reform, the pension reform and the increase in the Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI). There are three major agreements of this legislature, some achieved with the support of the employers, others not, that the unions consider the crown jewels of recent years, and therefore, that they are very interested in preserving.
The petition is to all the political forces, so as not to give the impression that someone is being given the winner, but they want to exert pressure on the popular ones, which are the party that, with options to occupy the Government, maintains a position more critical on these points, although without specifying what they were. Precisely, forcing to clarify the positions is what the unions are looking for.
“It would be a fraud in democratic terms for parties to contest the elections without clearly saying what they would do with the labor reform, the pension reform and the SMI”, stated the general secretary of the CC.OO., Unai Sordo, even demanding a monographic debate of the candidates on the economy, labor model and socioeconomic issues.
For his part, the general secretary of the UGT, Pepe Ãlvarez, has affirmed that “to say that it is going to be touched is to say everything and say nothing” and added that “the precision of pronouncement that we make publicly cannot be left with a ‘no it’ I’m going to touch it or I’m going to touch it’, the parties have the obligation to make an analysis and if there is no pronouncement, the citizens will know what to expectâ€.
That is to say, that the unions ask Feijóo to translate into details the messages to repeal Sanchismo and “touch” the labor reform. The two general secretaries have claimed this public position of Feijóo in a joint appearance in which they have made a very positive balance of the legislature that is now ending, which they have described as singular and “the most difficult in memory”, for having to weather a pandemic and a Ukrainian war. But, they are also characterized by the number of agreements that have been reached between the social agents. Some three-way, that is, with employers included, such as the labor reform, the first part of the pensions and the first increase in the SMI; and others without the CEOE.
The unions would like the CEOE to also demand a clear position from the parties on these reforms, but they doubt that this will happen. “He is in profile,” say union sources regarding the attitude of the president of the employers’ association Antonio Garamendi.
