Santa Cruz de Tenerife 1 May. (Press Europa) –
UGT and CCOO have organised a mobilization this Thursday, May 1, on International Workers Day, across the Islands, particularly in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, to advocate for social and labour rights while emphasising the fight for “a more equitable distribution of wealth,” especially that which arises from tourism.
In comments to the press, Héctor Fajardo, the Secretary of Organisation and Institutional Relations for UGT Canary Islands, conveyed the rallying cry of the demonstration, “defend what has been won,” highlighting the “danger” posed to rights amid “a global regression due to the rise of far-right governments in numerous European countries.”
“We are compelled to mobilise in defence of the social and labour rights of all Canary Islanders,” he stated.
Gatherings for ‘International Labour Day’ will be held across different islands of the archipelago, primarily in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, commencing at San Telmo Park, and in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, starting at Weyler Square.
The focus will centre on the need to advocate for “a more just distribution of wealth.” In this context, it has been emphasised as “vital” that “the revenue” generated from tourism “is fairly shared among workers, who are the true creators of this country’s wealth.”
Manifesto for 1 May
“Now more than ever, it is crucial to safeguard what has been achieved and rally for the future: CCOO Canarias is calling today to demand accountability from various employers,” states the manifesto from the groups, which also calls for “social responsibility” from the employers in private clinics, seeking “fair agreements with decent wages,” as well as those in agriculture, trade, hospitality, and “all other sectors.”
They have warned that “the Canary Islands is the region with the lowest wages in the entire Spanish State,” being “the most impoverished community, yet contributing more than ever to the national GDP, as profits and wealth remain concentrated in the hands of a few.”
In this regard, they highlighted that the working populace of this autonomous community “cannot afford exorbitant rents, especially not with the low wages being received,” along with the rising cost of living. “We are no longer an attractive region for workers, which discourages people from wanting to work here,” they elaborated in the document.
The demands also include criticism of the healthcare situation in the Canary Islands, deemed “the worst in the Spanish State, with the longest waiting lists.” They specifically denounced their “poor working conditions, where occupational health is not regarded as an investment by employers; improving working conditions is seen as a burden that diminishes profits.”
“They penalise the working class with precarious conditions, undermining societal well-being,” they asserted.
On a national level, they maintained that it is “essential” for social dialogue in Spain to be “encouraged to strengthen” decent employment, boost wages via collective negotiations, ensure the right to housing, and advance gender equality and the fight against gender-based violence.
“We also demand a political commitment to legislatively ratify the agreement between government and unions that establishes a maximum legal working week of 37.5 hours,” they added.
International Context
In their manifesto, CCOO and UGT expressed solidarity with peoples suffering from repression, occupation, and war. “We denounce the ongoing conflict in Ukraine following the Russian invasion. We demand an end to the occupation in Palestine, the ethnic cleansing of its people, the cessation of genocide in Gaza, and the indiscriminate attacks in the West Bank,” they asserted.
“Neither silence nor neutrality are viable options,” they stressed.
Regarding “the trade war instigated by the new Trump administration” and the imposition of tariffs, they called for a “firm and coordinated response” from the European Union.
In this light, they deemed it necessary to “strengthen” cooperation among Member States to continue making progress in a robust and united Europe, with “greater political integration” that prioritises social justice, reduces social inequalities, and eradicates poverty.
For this, they continued, it will be essential to “mobilise resources and implement expansive policies” aimed at creating “quality jobs, through industrial reinforcement, energy transition, and digital innovation,” with the involvement of labour unions “as guarantors of democracy, social cohesion, and equality.”
