Metal takes to the streets in Vigo: “We cannot be poor workers”

Author: Oscar Vazquez

tide of metal workers They occupied the streets of the city center Vigo on the first day of strike invited by the sector. They mobilize to demand a agree on an agreement “worthy” of the employer, after holding eleven meetings without understanding the parties. The agreement takes effect 33,000 people from 3,700 companies in the province of Pontevedra.

Thousands of employees from the metallurgical, maritime, automotive or aviation industries are supporting the concentration, and the factories are practically at a standstill. «They have an irrational position in negotiations. We are in a situation of unattainable price increases“, Shows Rubén Pérez, General Secretary of the UGT. The strike on June 15 disrupts the social peace that has reigned in the sector for 14 years.

«Or employment must offer stability. It cannot be used for competition», Perez defends. It refers to the arguments presented by employers Asima, Atra and Instalectra about the strong competition represented by countries like Portugal, with lower wages, and the globalization of the sector. «Living expenses, shopping cart, mortgages… don’t let you pay at the end of the month. We cannot be poor workers. We must have greater solvency“, explain Celso Carnero, of CC.OO. They are seeking 4 percent wage increases in 2023, 2024 and 2025, the three years of the agreement they want to sign. The business part, on the other hand, offers them an increase of 1, 2 and 2.5 percent. «There are no experts in that sector because the conditions are not decent“, To add.

Xulio Fernández, from CIG, He reports that workers from all over Pontevedra have traveled to Vigo to support the strike. «The entire province is at a standstill. I hope it serves as food for thought». And it is progressing that the days of mobilization on June 20 and 22 (coinciding with the celebration of the Mindtech fair) are still invited.

The concentration began in a symbolic environment, such as the extinct Hijos de J. Barreras shipyard. They moved down Coruña street to Plaza do Rei, where the town hall is. And from there they advanced to Plaza da Estrela, in front of the Xunta de Galicia building. The tour lasted about two hours, but In their final speech, the unions reminded that the strike lasts 24 hours and will last until tomorrow at 6 am. «Additional hours are reduced. There will be no relief this weekend,” the head of the workers’ commissions, Celso Carnero, is convinced.

He used his speech to exclaim that power plants are in this conflict CC.OO., UGT and CIG they work in tandem. «And we will get out of this together!“, he condemned. The workers responded that they hoped this premise would eventually be true. Rubén Pérez and Xulio Fernández insisted on this Businessmen do not find workers because they do not offer decent working conditions. In addition to salary increases, they are asking for a revision of the CPI and a reduction in the 24-hour working day in a year. Employers are currently offering them a discount of eight hours. There is also no agreement on a business approach to the recovery of temporary employment agencies (ETTs) in this industry.

«We will continue to do what is necessary», shouted the secretary of the CIG, who assured that the celebration of the Mindtech sector fair during the next week will not be a reason to end the strike. Boos, expressing his support for the workers, interrupted the speeches of the union leaders.

The one in the province of Pontevedra is the largest sectoral agreement in all of Galicia. The unions demand that the same working conditions that exist in Lugo, Ourense and A Coruña be applied. They regret that the business community of Pontevedra is not giving up for now.