BILBAO, 5 de febrero. (EUROPA PRESS) – El secretario general de CCOO, Unai Sordo, ha reacted to the decision of the Tribunal Superior de Justicia del País Vasco (TSJPV) to dismiss the demand from ELA and LAB regarding the minimum wage, asserting that the route proposed by these unions had «no way forward». He urged them to «redirect» their stance and advocated for a «mobilization strategy of all Basque unions to establish a negotiation route for collective minimum wages.»
In an interview with Radio Euskadi, Sordo stated that there is room for improvement regarding the Minimum Interprofessional Wage established at the state level, but emphasized that «the route is different» from what ELA and LAB propose.
«Furthermore, there is now a ruling from the Tribunal Superior de Euskadi that clarifies the situation,» he pointed out, referring to the decision by the Social Chamber of the TSJPV to dismiss the lawsuit filed by ELA and LAB against Confebask’s refusal to set up a table to negotiate a minimum wage for workers in Euskadi, which became known this past Wednesday.
Consequently, Sordo reiterated that «the route is through collective minimum wages». He argued for establishing a comprehensive agreement within the Basque Autonomous Community to ensure that collective agreements, affecting more than 90% of Basque workers, articulate minimum wages of at least that amount.
According to him, «the interprofessional minimum wage has to be one, and then collective bargaining needs to bring the numbers down to reality, depending on the socioeconomic situation and the prices in each territory, each autonomous community, and even each province, to set appropriate salary levels.»
He also pointed out that «it is perfectly reasonable that no one in Euskadi earns below those figures» that the Basque unions are proposing, but insisted that «the route is through collective agreements and an interconfederal agreement on collective agreements, rather than through the interprofessional minimum wage.»
Sordo deemed it «quite evident» that the ruling from the Tribunal Superior de Justicia del País Vasco «could only go in that direction», as the path laid out by ELA and LAB «seemed clearly unfeasible».
He criticized the Basque employers’ attitude, which he described as «regrettable», for not providing any real possibility for that negotiation when the proposed agreement for establishing a minimum wage was put forward.
«What should be established is a mobilization strategy for all Basque unions to try to create a negotiation and agreement path for those collective minimum wages,» he called.
Regarding the general strike called for March 17 by nationalist unions, he acknowledged that it is «very legitimate for everyone to call whatever they want», but reminded that it is «linked» to the minimum wage proposed by those unions, and that this is «a strategy that should be redirected, because it is possible.» Sordo argued that «if we were proposing something that had no feasibility, it would be one thing, but it is perfectly reasonable to establish these collective minimum wages and try to promote them in all collective agreements.»
Tubos Reunidos
On another note, he expressed his union’s concern over the situation at Tubos Reunidos and advocated that, in «a context where the entire country can take an industrial leap forward, it is necessary to do everything possible and impossible to retain and maintain investments.»
Sordo lamented the «difficult moment» characterized by «many global uncertainties», a slowdown in international trade, and «a questioning» of strategic industries in Europe. However, he emphasized that «this will be overcome in one way or another», and that the energy price based on renewable energy will be «the great factor attracting industrial investment in Euskadi and Spain in the medium term.»
Thus, he considered that «the commitment to industrialization and full employment is more meaningful than ever» and advocated that, in the face of announcements like that of Tubos Reunidos, efforts should be made to maintain investment, «guaranteeing non-traumatic measures in terms of no job destruction» while continuing operations.
Sordo mentioned he was unaware of «the details» of the declarations made by Basque counselor Mikel Jauregi –who proposed looking for a «viable and solid» industrial project for the company without «false rescues or kicking the can down the road»– yet he defended that «the public authority must be a leading investor» but must also «condition the investment decisions of private companies.»
«The time for just putting money at the disposal of companies without having real tools to condition the strategic investment decisions of firms and sectors has passed. The world is working this way already. The idea that the best industrial policy is one that did not exist has proven to be a failed idea,» he stated.
According to him, «right now in any of the major areas of the country, the public administration’s investment decisions are decisive, qualitatively very important, but they need to be tied to structural and permanent commitments from the companies.»