The Cevisama ceramics sector fair is in full swing with international buyers and while labor tension does not decrease. They are two sides of the same coin in one of the main industrial sectors of the Valencian Community, which is experiencing several days of strike this week while celebrating its most important fair with great success.
The UGT-PV and CCOO-PV unions called a strike day yesterday which, according to Jordi Riera, spokesperson for the negotiating commission on behalf of CCOO Hàbitat PV, had a "majority" following of 80%. On the other hand, the Ascer employer association assures that, with the information collected from its associated companies, of the total number of people who were supposed to return to work during the morning shift, 7.53% did not do so; That is, 92.47% joined their position.
In this scenario, the association of tile companies "deeply regrets the total absence of negotiating will on the part of the union by stating that, despite the business offers, the strike was not going to be called off." They defend that "with this attitude they have frustrated an immediate improvement in salaries corresponding to 2023, the payment of arrears and the collection of increased salaries during 2024."
The employers insist on the effort made to avoid the loss of purchasing power of workers, and point out that they are making a "titanic effort to avoid the loss of jobs." According to their figures, despite a 33% drop in production, there has only been a 12% drop in employment.
Ascer also believes that the unions are "prioritizing mobilizations over any negotiation to reach agreements, condemning all workers to an unnecessary blockade." Meanwhile, according to Europa Press, for CCOO-PV "now is the time to increase the pressure, to move the negotiation forward", which "will undoubtedly have to be resumed at some point and improve the working conditions of the sector." Tomorrow, Friday, the last day of the Cevisama celebration where the sector is working these days, there will be a new strike.
Meanwhile, Cevisama points out that exhibitors are satisfied at the halfway point of the fair and with the business generated, highlighting the "enormous" presence of international visitors. Cevisama and Ivace i Internacional have managed to launch what they present as "the largest Cevisama buyer plan in the last 40 years, which amounts to more than 850 invited foreign companies." Professionals from France, the United States, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Morocco, Mexico, Colombia, Egypt, Austria, Canada, Israel and Spain have been learning about Cevisama's news and trends these days. They point out that they look for innovation and creativity, as well as products made in Spain.
Yesterday the director of Cevisama, Carmen Álvarez, conveyed the good results: “On the third day of the fair our perception is very positive. The exhibitors tell us that the influx of visitors is being magnificent and important international contacts are being established. In this sense, we are very satisfied with the result of the buyer campaign carried out together with IVACE i Internacional,” she declared.
