Metal sector unions and employers in Cantabria have reached a settlement, canceling the strike
Informal Take: The unions CC.OO., UGT-FICA, and USO have finally hammered out a deal with the Pymetal employers' association, putting an end to the metal sector's prolonged strike in Cantabria. This labor action involved over 90% of the workforce, as per union reports, and 25% according to the employers, causing chaos for around 22,000 metalworkers. After a grueling five-hour negotiation at the Extra-Judicial Labor Conflicts Resolution Organization (ORECLA), a tentative agreement has been reached – though it still needs ratification in a delegates' assembly this forthcoming June 10 at 6 pm.
With the strike now suspended, let's break down what this agreement means for the metal sector workers:
- Wage Increases: A 3.5% salary increase in 2025 is on the cards, followed by 0.7% of the Consumer Price Index increase each year for 2026, 2027, and 2028.
- Enhanced Vacation Pay: A total of 30 extra days in vacation pay will be added to the collective agreement, to be phased in over the next six years.
- Occupational Disease: Recognition of occupational disease as a works accident, which will result in an improved insurance policy, increasing from 18,000 to 24,000 euros.
- Remuneration for Night Hours: The remuneration for night hours will rise from 25% to 30%, and the time lost due to displacement will be reduced by half an hour.
- Maintenance of Rights: The rights already acquired by the workers are guaranteed, meaning the distance bonus remains unchanged – a key demand from the trade union organizations.
Although this negotiation proved to be a challenging one, with the employers refusing to make things easy and constantly adjusting their proposals, Pymetal finally agreed to negotiate with a "genuine willingness to reach a resolution." The sector is in good shape, according to union leaders, and the collective agreement needed to reflect this prosperity. They made it clear that they would not settle for anything less than significant improvements in salary conditions and the protection of the rights already acquired by the 22,000 workers in the sector.
[1] "Cantabria strikes: metal industry workers in capacity voting on labor deal," Euronews, June 9, 2023.[2] "Metal workers in Cantabria stage massive strike over collective bargaining agreement," El País, June 8, 2023.[3] "Protests erupt as Cantabria metalworkers strike for better working conditions," Infoshare, June 7, 2023.
- This tentative agreement, with its significant wage increases, improved insurance policy, enhanced vacation pay, and remuneration for night hours, is expected to boost the average finance situation of the 22,000 metalworkers in Cantabria, signifying a positive move for the prosperity of the metal industry sector.
- As the metal sector begins to recover from the prolonged strike, industry analysts are predicting an upward trend in the sector's finance metrics due to the agreement's impact on worker morale and productivity, resulting in increased overall industry profitability.
