Metal workers are on the street in Bizkaia, three days on strike
- The trade unions have started a strike cycle for 52,000 workers in the Bizkaia metalworking sector. In the last negotiation process there was no agreement with the employers, so the workers’ representatives have turned to the moblisation. This Thursday is the first day of strike.
In general, there has been a "distended atmosphere" in the morning demonstrations by the metal workers in Bizkaia, but the presence of the Ertzaintza has caused some moments of tension, especially when the pickets have gone to inform the workers, according to the unions. This Thursday's strike was convened by the unions CCOO, LAB, UGT, ESK, CGT and CNT, with their own call and unilateral mobilization of ELA. The workers have put barricades in different places as a protest.
The strike affected 52,000 workers and trade unions organized stoppages on Friday and 2 November: "The atmosphere has been good, we've gathered a lot of people on the pickets, people are strong, eager and convinced. However, we must denounce the attitude of the Ertzaintza, which has been identifying, detecting and hindering the work of the pickets," explains Iratxe Azkue, industrial head of LAB, in statements to Hamaika Telebista.
Azkue explains that the current call has had a broader follow-up than in the latest strikes in the sector, for example, the LAB representative says the Duranguesado is "almost closed". Tecuni, Arteche, Bombardier, DYF and Pragueay announce the cessation of production.
Mass demonstrations have been launched in the streets at noon, as in Durango.
The manifestation begins.
The strike paralyzes #Durangoaldea.
Claims for the dignification of the convention have invaded the streets of #Durango|.
? @Hamaika Tb @LABsindikatua @LABDurangaldea @CCOO euskadi @UGT _Euskadi pic.twitter.com/e6hhcgEXLe
— Aiara de Urreta Gabikagogeaskoa (@AiaraGBK) October 27, 2022
FVEM, the Bizkaia metal management company, did not offer any new proposals to guarantee the purchasing power of the workers at the last meeting, which profoundly distanced the margin of agreement, as the unions explained. When inflation is very low, the business partnership only proposes an increase of 6.5% this year: "Employers have offered a wage bill that still does not guarantee people's purchasing power. In return, it continues with the intention of reducing the minimum guarantee, increasing flexibility and questioning temporary disability allowances," explains CCOO.
ELA, for its part, states that the increase in CPI for all staff is not guaranteed: "There is no progress in reducing working hours, nor in subrogation, ETT is not controlled, compulsory arbitration in the metal of Bizkaia is not avoided, there is no progress in equality plans...", he explains. That is why it calls on the entire workforce to join the strike and stop production.
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