Almost 5,000 Mercedes workers have been called on strike by the majority of the unions in two groups: on the one hand, the unions ELA, LAB and ESK; and on the other, UGT and CCOO. The Ekintza and PIM unions did not hold a call. Despite their positions, the five trade unions called for the strike have agreed to a joint demonstration at 11:00 in the morning at Mercedes' own workshop. In the afternoon, UGT and CCOO SEA will be mobilized at the headquarters of the Alavesa employers and the unions ELA, LAB and ESK will make a demonstration starting from the Plaza de Santa María. UGT and CCOO have also called for strike on 29 and ELA, LAB and ESK have called for a full week from 27 June to 1 July.

On the eve of the first strike, the direction of the factory of Vitoria de Mercedes has published a note. The Directorate considers that the strike is “incomprehensible and harmful”: “The arguments used by the conveners can only be understood as an attempt to boycott the negotiation process to generate situations of tension among the workers, which in no way helps to reach a new collective agreement”.

New labour agreement

Negotiations for the renewal of the labour agreement began a year and a half ago. Last Friday, the 35th and last meeting between the management of the company and the unions was held, and it was closed again without agreement. Nor was a date specified for a new meeting, as the management refused to meet while the calls for strike were maintained. Discrepancies relate to working conditions and wages. One of the main sources of tension is the sixth shift. The Company wants night workers to be able to extend their shift for another day, five consecutive nights to six. The ELA, LAB and ESK unions have also set as “red stripe” the maintenance of wages or the regulation of weekend and public holidays conditions.

“Blackmail” and “pressure”

Mercedes announced in the context of the negotiations for the renewal of the agreement its willingness to make an investment of EUR 1,200 in the Vitoria-Gasteiz plant, provided that the workers accept greater “flexibility”. In order to guarantee this investment, a week later Mercedes, the Basque Government and the Council of Álava signed an agreement. Representatives of the Government and the Council have placed the responsibility of the workers not to miss the “historic opportunity” in a number of statements. The unions have denounced the “blackmail” of the company and the “pressure” of the organizations.