SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 24th April (EUROPA PRESS) –
The labour unions Comisiones Obreras, UGT, and USO have urged the working class to participate in demonstrations and rallies on May 1st, International Workers’ Day, in the Canary Islands to demand full employment and better wages.
The general secretaries of UGT and CCOO in the Canary Islands, Manuel Navarro and Inocencio González, along with the Secretary of Organization and Finance of USO Canarias, Itahisa Torres, unveiled the planned actions for May 1st under the theme ‘For full employment: reduced working hours, increased salaries’.
In a scenario where the Canary Islands have shown a “decisive” response in demanding a shift towards a more equitable and sustainable tourism model, the general secretaries of both unions have labelled this May 1st as a “landmark occasion.”
Manuel Navarro emphasised the impact of the events on April 20th, stating that it has prompted a wake-up call. He expressed the need for politicians and business leaders to take necessary actions, with UGT advocating for a social, economic, and political agreement to provide concrete solutions to society.
“On May 1st, the workers of this region will once again march on the streets to demand fair wealth distribution, improved working conditions, and affordable housing access. While acknowledging that tourism has been the main economic driver, money cannot continue to concentrate in the hands of a few,” stated the UGT Canarias general secretary.
Navarro also highlighted the positive impact of labour reforms in enhancing working conditions by reducing temporary contracts, boosting permanent employment, and achieving record Social Security affiliations through agreements between unions and the government that have led to pension increments.
He further mentioned that following the signing of the V Agreement for Employment and Collective Bargaining (AENC), collective bargaining has played a crucial role in enhancing the working conditions of employees.
Navarro stressed the aim of the union in achieving full employment and the importance of close collaboration with the Canarian Employment Service to align job opportunities with skillsets. “Employment strategies are vital, especially with the structural unemployment prevalent in the Canary Islands, notably impacting the youth and individuals over 45 years old. Continuing to upgrade the skills and qualifications of our workforce is essential,” he added.
AN “INTERNATIONALIST” PERSPECTIVE.
According to Inocencio González, the general secretary of CCOO Canarias, this May 1st holds an “internationalist” significance, occurring amidst global tensions such as the recent unjustifiable aggression of Israel against Palestine.
González advocated for legal reductions in working hours and time accompanied by enhanced time management systems. He underscored the necessity to improve part-time employment, facilitate migrant integration procedures, and bolster industrial policies and sectoral growth as neoliberalism has shown shortcomings.
He called for the approval of a comprehensive care law, addressing the precarious situations faced by young people, revising the IPREM (public indicator of multiple effects income), and implementing housing policies to combat social inequality, urging public authorities to show “courage” in this regard.
USO highlighted the declining job quality and, through the voice of its Secretary of Organization and Finance, Ithaisa Torres, called for effective policies. “Our purchasing power has been diminishing over the years, with pseudo-permanent employment leading to a notable decline in job duration. The widening wage inequalities and increased poverty and exclusion are alarming, particularly in the Canary Islands,” Torres remarked.
The scheduled activities for May 1st include demonstrations and assemblies across various locations in the Islands. At 11:00 a.m., a protest will be held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, departing from San Telmo and converging at Plaza Santa Ana. Concurrently, a demonstration will commence in Santa Cruz de Tenerife from Plaza Weyler.
In Santa Cruz de La Palma, a gathering is set for 11:00 a.m. at the Island Directorate of the General State Administration. Additionally, the tenth edition of the ‘Miguel Barrios Miralles’ Trade Union Work Awards will take place at the Benito Pérez Armas House of Culture in Yaiza at 12:00 p.m. and a rally at Plaza de Las Américas in San Sebastián de La Gomera at the same time.
