During these weeks we speak here and beyond sovereignty, proclaiming and defending some, denying and marginalising others. Sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein states that the concept of sovereignty is a myth. The use of this term has different consequences in this global system, depending on the time we use it, as it is not the same when Donald Trump is used as Carles Puigdemont. The term does not mean anything in itself, I completely agree. In fact, it is necessary to provide content to the concept, place it in a context. The same applies to the right to decide: as long as we do not specify more, it is diffuse and in order to materialise the concept we have to place it in certain areas and territories.

Without going to Catalonia, let us go to the Basque area of labor relations and find ourselves in the hospitality sector. About 45,000 people work in this sector in the Basque Autonomous Community (CAV). Of these, 12,000 workers are employed in hospitals, nursing homes and school canteens in the sub-block of “collectivities”.

In this particular sub-sector I. Hospitality sector of the CAPV. The Framework Agreement was signed by the majority trade unions in the sector last January. The preferential application of the collective agreement for the hospitality of Bizkaia, Álava and Gipuzkoa was hereby agreed. The agreement is a kind of insurance, to guarantee the workers here the implementation of the conventions agreed here and to protect them from possible cutbacks that may come from Madrid, so that the labour relations there are decided. ELA and LAB are the main signatories of the agreement and in this sector 77.48% of the trade union representation is at their disposal. They certainly represent a very large, even broader majority than the qualified majority of any parliament.

Well, the minority trade unions in the field of our labour relations, CCOO and UGT, have committed a very serious attack on the right to decide: Hospitality I. The Framework Agreement has been contested by the State’s employers, who have not approved the proposal. This move is calling for the Basque framework of labour relations to be denied and for state agreements to be imposed. If the challenge proves to be successful, it would be very hard for the workers of the communities: applying state conventions instead of local conventions can lead to a 50% reduction in their wages and force them to work 50 hours more a year. In short, the state unions seek to monopolise trade union representation in defence of a state framework. Statehood brings with it the homogenization of working conditions and CCOO and UGT clearly bet on it, even to the detriment of workers.

The CAV lehendakari, Iñigo Urkullu, speaks of self-government solemnly. But positions are measured with facts and lehendakari continues to reach agreements with whom and with trade unions opposed to self-government in the workplace. Not only that, it continues to conclude agreements with minority trade unions among us, denying and marginalising the majority of trade unions. With these alliances, it opposes democratic play and self-government at the same time. But the lehendakari feels comfortable, precisely because that alliance guarantees social peace.

And yes, Wallerstein is right: the right to decide is a very vague concept. It is not the same when it is used by Urkullu as when it is used by the Basque trade union majority. Let us ask the workers of the communities differently if they see differences. Although lehendakari does not listen, he himself knows that, without the right to collective bargaining of his own, there is no self-government.