How did you start the strike process?The workers decided
to organize in May and for the first time trade union elections were held. Once organized, we made the first works council, and around the month of July we had our first meeting with the company; although we added the conditions to fight, from the beginning we received the refusal. We had to wait until November for a second meeting. Nor was any improvement achieved and we decided to go on the five-day strike.

In what situation were you before going to the strike and what have been the requirements for Eroski?We are covered by the state agreement and we are charged the minimum inter-professional
wage, without extra compensation for night, holidays or shifts. Although we did an eight-hour day, we were counted in 7.67 hours, because they did not take into account rest. We therefore wanted to count the eight hours, extend the salary line, implement the Bizkaia Food Trade Agreement, implement effective prevention and occupational health measures and discuss labour prevention issues, among others. Furthermore, to put an end to unilateral flexibility, we call for an annual timetable.

What are the concrete works you do on a daily basis?
Our job is to make productions for Eroski, and at Eroski we place orders in supermarkets and large surfaces. In particular, we work on non-perishable food from Eroski and conventional food: chickpeas, bread, chips, nougat… everything. It is a work of great physical activity, in which we must take on great burdens. Not to rest in working hours is unsustainable for us.

Do all workers receive the same treatment?
No, there are also partners in the warehouse. In general, the warehouse is organized by hallways: sometimes there is soap, water and I think, which is what we do the workers of Cecosa. However, partners are not included. Therefore, despite the fact that both partners and workers can work hand-in-hand, certain tasks are carried out exclusively by us.

As for the convention, different conventions apply to us as well. We are covered by the State Convention signed in Madrid, signed between 23 and 26 December, and we are not paid night savings. Another agreement applies to Eroski's partners, with their own statutes and to any association agreements with Bizkaia.

Their aim has been to achieve the working conditions of the Bizkaia Food Convention, right?
Yes, the most important part of this agreement is that there is negotiation here in Euskal Herria and that ELA, as a trade union, can participate in the food trade negotiating table in Bizkaia. But what applies to the workers of Cecosa is the agreement of the department stores, so the union cannot intervene, because it is negotiated in Madrid. This agreement has an annual day of 1,770 hours, salaries are low and we do not charge any extra. Bizkaia's job is almost 50 hours less. The wage gap is also important, as more tradable rights are recognized in the Basque Country.

Have the pickets and protests held in five days of strike been effective?
Yes. In the Elorrio warehouse they have been pickets every day to give visibility to the strike. But we have also done other activities: excursions and tours, and during the meeting with the company, we concentrated in Bilbao. These actions have helped us to bring the Elorrio conflict out and reintegrate it. In short, something media.

When they came to work, we had contact with partners who were not called on to strike on the pickets: many people whistled as solidarity and others stayed to cheer. However, before making the situation known, I would say that people did not know what the state of the warehouse was.

What was the overall follow-up to the strike?
I would say that the strike has remained 97%. Extensive monitoring. In total, in the warehouse we are between 300 and 400 workers, of which 130 belong to the staff of Cecosa. Of these 130 workers, eight quit.

They are in favour of signing the agreement after the negotiations, which means, among other things, a salary increase of around 22.94% for 2025. Furthermore, what have been the other achievements? We have managed to count the eight
hours of work, to charge a new plus called PNG for a total amount of EUR 2,400 per year, to pay public holidays, to recognise seniority and to pay the amounts derived from this concept, to pay 5% more currency, to reduce the journey time of 70 hours that allows you to enjoy more days of vacation or days of free disposal, and finally, in occupational health, to establish the mechanical means necessary to reduce the physical effort involved in storage. In other words, commit to real prevention issues. This is very important for workers who suffer long journeys and significant physical exhaustion.

What is your intention for the future?
Now we have to rest, but later on we will have to sit back with the company because there are still dozens of improvement factors. Our welfare is at stake. With this struggle we have hit the table. We had to start with a few minimums and we have already achieved them. But this is only a beginning, because we have organised ourselves now. We have a lot of work to do, they have to renegotiate and improve by 2025, to reject the convention that they apply to us.