The associations of judges and prosecutors hope to reach an agreement with the Ministry of Justice before May 16, so as not to go on strike. Yesterday they met with representatives of the department headed by Pilar Llop – a meeting that started at eleven in the morning and ended, with a break for lunch, at eight at night – and when they left they did not hide their “optimism”, although with much suspicion, for the result of this first contact. Justice would have offered a game of 44 million euros that would not cover 20% of the loss of purchasing power that professional associations point out since 2004, although it is a first proposal that will have the counteroffer of the social part on Monday .
Juan José Carbonero, from the Professional Association of the Magistracy, affirmed that “now is the time to study and evaluate what has been put on the table.” Carbonero insisted that the best news at this time “is that a process of negotiation and dialogue has begun, something that we have been demanding for many years.” The magistrate stressed that it is still early to talk about “satisfaction” and he entrusts everything to the second meeting on Monday.
More optimistic was Inés Herrero, from the Progressive Association of Prosecutors. “The day has been productive and we have all been able to present our points of viewâ€, she affirmed. Herrero does trust that “there will be an agreement before May 16.”
The Ministry of Justice is going through its lowest hours due to this revolt of protests. After the strike by court clerks and civil servants, the threat of strikes by judges and prosecutors, and the protest by public defenders, the forensic technical teams of the courts are now joining these demands. Educators, social workers and psychologists from the Institutes of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences also ask for a labor regulation according to their responsibilities. On April 20, they sent the ministry a letter requesting a meeting. Having received no response, they threatened partial strikes, without ruling out an indefinite strike.
Meanwhile, the officials of the administration of justice will demonstrate again today and will increase the pressure with full-time strikes on May 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 due to the silence of Justice.
The only ones who have achieved, for now, their objectives are the lawyers of the administration of justice (court clerks), after a strike that lasted almost three months and aggravated the endemic collapse that judicial offices are already suffering.
