The decision was made this Tuesday in the Council of Ministers, but without the news being reported, and it was only known when it appeared today in the BOE. It is about taking advantage of the Royal Decree-Law that reforms unemployment benefits to establish the prevalence of regional agreements over state and sectoral agreements, one of the conditions set by the PNV for the investiture of the President of the Government.
It was a demand of the Basque party that was not included in the labor reform, but that has now been carried out by surprise, with the immediate protest of both the CEOE and the unions, who have criticized the lack of social dialogue, with a Government, they say, that makes decisions on its own. They refer to yesterday's decisions, on the one hand the reform of unemployment benefits and also, as has become known today, to the prevalence of regional agreements.
CC.OO. and UGT request a meeting with the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, because they consider that “a breakdown in the climate of trust that the tripartite negotiation has enjoyed in recent times” is beginning to occur. For his part, the general secretary of CC.OO, Unai Sordo, has urged Pedro Sánchez to “convene a social dialogue table as soon as possible to decide the scope of the matters to be discussed in this legislature and restore the confidence that in this “At the moment it is looking bankrupt.”
A similar line is maintained by the CEOE, which considers that introducing this prevalence without negotiating with social agents is “a lack of loyalty and trust” essential to maintain social dialogue. He also adds his usual objections to this change, considering that it threatens market unity and a deterioration in social cohesion and Spanish competitiveness.
The decree law establishes this prevalence of regional agreements, although conditional on their application being more favorable to workers than that established in state agreements and that the majorities required to constitute the negotiating commission are obtained.
Specifically, it is established that these “agreements and conventions signed at the regional level will have application priority over any other sectoral or state-level agreement,” and it is also added that this prevalence applies whenever their regulation “is more favorable for workers.” than that established in state conventions or agreements.”
The explanation of reasons specifies that the objective of this modification is to apply the most favorable agreements for workers.
