The complaint of three former workers of the Compromís parliamentary group in Les Corts Valencianes has ended up in court. Throughout this year and next, separate trials will be held to clarify whether, as the three former advisors of the coalition in the regional Parliament claim, there was an unfair dismissal.
The complainants tell this newspaper that there are no economic reasons that justify an objective dismissal. They believe that their labor rights have been violated and demand compensation in line with what an unfair dismissal would mean.
The parliamentary group, in its letter of dismissal to one of those affected (dated in September of last year), indicates that “the causes that motivate this decision are primarily of an economic nature” [they also allege organizational issues] due to a ” economically negative situation”. The letter explains that the group “depends on the annual subsidies assigned to political parties, federations, coalitions and groups of voters with representation in the Cortes” and, after several calculations, it is recalled that “it is proven that, due to the electoral results, the subsidies granted have suffered a decrease of 5.63%”.
However, in their lawsuit, the dismissed workers allege that “the letter terminating the employment contract states that there are causes of an economic nature, collecting exclusively and briefly the figures of an alleged decrease in subsidies in the amount of 17,000 euros.” However, those affected point out in their writing, “it only refers to income and not expenses, in conclusion, they do not refer to the performance that justifies the extinction.”
Regarding issues of an organizational nature, the parliamentary group defends that “the reduction of deputies in the Valencian Cortes [Compromís went from 17 to 15 seats after the regional elections] forces an internal reorganization that mainly affects the advisors as they are linked directly with the number of deputies obtained in the last elections of May 28”.
However, the former workers point out that, months after receiving the letter setting out the reasons for terminating their employment relationship, the parliamentary group hired other workers, so they believe that the objective dismissal and the alleged causes are not justified.
Asked about this situation, the Compromís parliamentary group responds that since “the process is judicialized”, the training has no more comments to make in this regard than, of course, “respect the right of workers to make any labor claim that they consider.”
Along these lines, the same sources explain that, in light of the restructuring in Les Corts, “there have been workers who have not sued and others who have”, and that the group, “evidently”, will comply “scrupulously with the legislation without prejudice to the parties can meet sooner and reach an agreement.”
