Workers Commissions (CCOO) reported an alleged attack on a chambermaid in Tenerife on Thursday. According to union sources, the conflict took place on Wednesday, with the union elections of the Hotel Labranda Suite Costa Adeje looming. CCOO alleges that their candidate was assaulted by a delegate of the Grassroots Unionists, who is also running in the upcoming election scheduled for Friday, February 9. ”Union bullying is at its worst,” they stated.
According to CCOO, members of Grassroots Unionists entered the hotel dining room on Thursday to present their electoral program “using a megaphone and recording within a private area without the consent of those attending the assembly.” The union stated, ”Clearly, with the intention to provoke and turn the assembly into a regrettable attempt to be heard in a hotel that refuses to acknowledge the acronyms it represents.”
”This resulted in an exchange of insults that culminated in the assault on a chambermaid, a CCOO candidate,” they claimed. The union asserts that the chambermaid suffered an anxiety attack on the way to the mutual insurance company and they will provide her with the necessary support “to take all relevant legal actions to clarify these events.” The National Police also attended the scene.
Grassroots Unionists’ Denial
The General Secretary of the Grassroots Unionists, Manuel Fitas, denied any ”aggression”: ”It is 100% false.” Fitas stated that his union had planned the electoral campaign for February 5 and 7.
”On Monday, two colleagues went and found a group of workers with whistles and banging on the tables. They couldn’t conduct the assembly as they were not allowed to speak. That’s why I took a megaphone, to exercise my right to express our proposal for the workers to vote for us,” the General Secretary explained.
”We will take legal action, as we believe there has been coercion and violation of freedom of association, as defined in article 172 of the Penal Code,” he cautioned. Furthermore, the General Secretary questioned why CCOO has not brought any lawsuit before the court.
