“The 37.5-hour workday has to be a reality in the Official State Gazette without much time passing.” This has been the central demand of the unions during the traditional May 1 demonstration held in Madrid. The general secretaries of UGT and CCOO have demanded that the coalition government, present with three vice presidents and four other ministers, accelerate the implementation of this commitment included in the legislature pact. This document contemplates that the reduction in working time “will occur progressively, reducing to 38.5 hours in 2024 and culminating in 2025.”
The leader of UGT, Pepe Álvarez, proclaimed at the beginning of the march that “it is worth it” to walk towards this reduction in working hours and has demanded that the measures that affect workers be dedicated in Parliament, the headquarters of the popular sovereignty.
The general secretary of CCOO, Unai Sordo, has asked that this May 1 serve as a day of “claiming on the offensive.” “Spain is ready to achieve full employment,” he added. For Sordo, the country cannot resign itself to having unemployment rates above 10% and, to do so, it is necessary to promote an “industrial policy” with public resources that mobilize private investment and revitalize the “social agenda.”
The words of the two union leaders at the central Workers’ Day demonstration occurred in the presence of eight members of the Government: María Jesús Montero, Yolanda Díaz, Teresa Ribera, Óscar Puente, Elma Saiz, Ernest Urtasun, Mónica García and Sira Rego. The members of the Executive did not remember such a large government presence. As for the influx, the Government Delegation has estimated 10,000 attendees. The organizing organizations have raised the figure to 100,000 people.
“This year it was necessary to be here,” commented the third vice president and head of the PSOE list in the European elections, Teresa Ribera. At her side was the first vice president, María Jesús Montero, who stated that the Government is committed to full employment and confirmed that the reduction of the working day “is a cry and we are going to make it possible.”
The second vice president, Yolanda Díaz, has been more combative from the microphone. “We are going to reduce the working day, we are going to work less, without reducing the salary, to live better,” she defended. “The reduction in working hours has to put an end to the “it doesn’t give me life” among, mainly, women,” she added. The Minister of Labor completed her intervention by assuring that “we are going to reform dismissals in our country” and “continue raising salaries.”
Pedro Sánchez’s letter from a week ago, his reflection for almost five days and the decision to continue as President of the Government has also had its echo on May 1. Montero stated that this year’s demonstration “has added value.” “We are here to defend democracy (…) from the mud machine that tries to stop us from talking about citizens’ problems.” The leader of CCOO, for his part, has defended that “the social agenda is compatible with the agenda of democratic regeneration” and has demanded the renewal of the CGPJ, a reform of the judicial power and “limiting the use of lies, slander and insidiousness.” ”.
