Tubacex workers have had to return to their jobs today because the Labour Inspectorate has concluded that the safety criteria are met.

The Directorate has drawn up a new protocol which has entered into force today, which will allow the company to accede to it. The Works Committee has reported that this document has been developed by the company after several meetings and that it contains input from the unions.

The Directorate has released the following video explaining the details of the protocol:

Over 9 hours in factory

Workers' representatives have, however, stressed that some of the points contained in the protocol prevent a "unanimous agreement" between management and workers. “The main obstacle is working time,” the unions explained in a statement.

In their view, the proposed rotation and relief of management would mean that workers would remain in the factory for more than 9 hours, which is not feasible with the conciliation problems that many workers have.

The Works Council has therefore made a clear request to the management: to reduce the number of hours per shift to 6, in order to take advantage of the other two hours of working time and to comply with the measures on safety criteria.

In addition, workers’ representatives have asked the company to reduce the number of handrails and ensure “on-call substitutions” on weekends, “to deal with possible casualties due to positive coronavirus cases.”

They have, however, denounced that the company did not accept these two things and that negotiations were suspended.

"Not compliant"

As has already been mentioned, the management protocol has entered into force today and all workers have been moved to sign it.

Some workers have signed it "not compliant" and have received a call from the management in which they are told that if they did not sign the document they would not go to work.

The Staff Commission will meet at noon on Monday with the company’s management. We will update the news as we get more information.