You are a member of the Outraged Overrun Fire Association. Why do you say you're angry?
We are angry that in 2022 we passed the opposition to provide the firefighters of Álava and Gipuzkoa with personnel, but the work bag is still incomplete, because in the midst of the testing process attempts have been made to change the regulations. In the usual, in a public opposition, you have to do a theoretical, physical and psychotechnical exam, adding merits (work experience and titles) a list is created in which depending on the score obtained, you are classified according to your position and you go to get a place or fill vacancies. What is happening is that when it comes to making that list, attempts have been made to have those who pass the test stay but stand behind those who have the most work experience. To this end, attempts have been made in the middle of the opposition process to change the rules on labour exchanges.
They have therefore tried to change the rules in the midst of an opposition process that had already been established by the regulation. Who has driven this change?
The Provincial Council of Álava and the trade unions. At first, ELA and LAB were in favor of this change. After meeting with them, LAB positioned itself in our favor, along with UGT, ESK and CCOO. To express our support for our struggle, we recorded a joint text in the Provincial Council of Álava.
You have created the partnership to fight for your rights. Did you get an answer?
In addition to mobilising, we have met with trade unions and political parties, all parties, except the PNV, have expressed their support to us. On 17 October we attended the General Boards of Álava at the request of EH Bildu and Podemos and, subsequently, the Fire Deputy, Jone Berriozabal, responded to the questions of the different parties. The idea is to respect the rules as they stand, to create a labour market and to give training and employment to the people on the labour market. That's the last piece of news we have, but there's still nothing on paper, and the bag still doesn't complete. At the moment, those who will sign the square are receiving training, which will be completed by February, and the rest of us know nothing. We are in a situation of total uncertainty and ignorance, having overcome the whole opposition process, without knowing whether we will be able to do the work that belongs to us.
"The hardest thing is to wait for something, without being certain it will come."
Are you satisfied with Berriozabal's statements?
There is a step forward, but we will continue to fight until the list is officially published and the training and work that we are there are.
How many are you in this situation?
We are 164 people affected.
And what does this kind of long, uncertain processes entail on a personal level?
We live in extreme ignorance. In fact, overcoming and getting into the labour market is a minimum guarantee, normally training and perhaps work, but we do not know anything now. The hardest thing is to wait for something, without being certain it will come. We've been preparing the tests for a long time. This implies a great effort and sacrifice at a personal, family and economic level; some have left work to learn and train or have delegated family care to the couple, others have been immersed in work and in the preparation of the opposition, without too many occasions to see their friends...
Has there been a conflict between fire fighters?
On the basis of the opposition, the creation of the labour market is the responsibility of the director of Arkaute, historically, but the Deputies have managed their work bags. There are now three administrations involved and the labour market has not yet been created.
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