For A Legislature Of Social Progress, By Pepe Álvarez

Unfortunately, Spain is increasingly polarized, which makes it impossible to reach the necessary State agreements that allow society to lay the foundations for the coexistence of several generations. In recent weeks we have witnessed an example of this tension in which there are those who discuss the legitimacy of the results of the last general elections.

In Spain we live in a representative democracy. The people directly elect the legislative branch and the configuration of majorities in it elects the President of the Government, who in turn appoints the Executive branch. That democratic purity is what we are experiencing with the investiture of Pedro Sánchez. Only the judiciary in our country remains with its mandate expired.

The minimum wage, reduction of working hours and dismissal, major union objectives

Precisely this tense political criticism has been transferred to that power of the State in an anomalous situation—the General Council of the Judiciary—which, for the sake of the division of powers itself, should not have made a political statement on legislative projects that have not yet transcended the scope. judicial. The adaptation to the legal system of new grace measures (which in the past have been effective in terms of coexistence and economic recovery), must be transferred, in any case, to the Constitutional Court. Social and political coexistence, and the end of the clash between institutions, must be the great objective.

All this noise should not hide the main challenges that affect our society, citizens and companies. The previous legislature achieved progress in social rights rarely experienced in our history.

The challenge for the beginning legislature is enormous. The investiture pact expresses commitments such as the firm commitment to social dialogue. This instance seems fundamental to us given the complexity of the challenges we face as a result of the epochal transformations we are experiencing. There is no one like organizations of workers and companies to cooperate in the face of changes, to consolidate rights and improve the economy. For this reason, we believe that it is necessary to develop article 129 of the Constitution, opening the door to democracy in companies with more participation of their workers.

We share the need for the 21st century Labor Statute. The current text is an amended version of the 1980 original. It is evident that the needs and challenges in labor relations have changed. Teleworking did not exist; demands regarding the reconciliation of personal and work life were not a priority; promoting mental health prevention in the workplace had not broken the social taboo.

From CC.OO. and UGT we seek the consolidation of rights in which progress was made in the last legislature. The increase in the interprofessional minimum wage, which must continue to increase until guaranteed by law at least 60% of the average wage. We must convert this legislative mandate into that of full employment.

There are matters in which we ask the new progressive Government for ambition. The reduction of working hours and the regulation of dismissal are just two examples. The coalition of leftist forces is committed to reducing the maximum legal working day to 37 and a half hours per week. The proposal is moving in the right direction, as it represents the first reduction in working hours since the implementation of the 40-hour week in 1983. There is still a way to go towards the 35 hours that, in our opinion, should be reached at the end of this period of sessions. . Productivity improvements must be distributed between capital, investment and work, and reducing working hours is an effective measure for this.

In this legislature, the guarantees for workers against unjustified dismissal must be established, complying with the European Social Charter. This commitment is one of the elements that will mark the near future, in which workers must recover fair protection, which discourages dismissals without cause.

Citizens granted a correlation of parliamentary forces that determines a plural majority, and prevents the arrival of the extreme right to the government. It is necessary that the Government, as a result of the majority will of the Spanish people, begins to move forward so that we can continue recovering and strengthening rights. UGT and CC.OO. We will fight firmly for all of this.