On May 1, from the Workers’ Committees of the Region of Murcia, I would like to appreciate the social and labor achievements of the past year. Achievements that mean acquiring rights and improving the lives of the majority of working people: the pension reform, which guarantees purchasing power and its financing until 2050; the increase of the SMI to 1,080 euros for 14 payments; the labor reform, which allowed thousands of workers to be employed indefinitely; Article 16 of the Labor Statute, which regulates the use of the interrupted open-ended contract, the improvement of unemployment benefits, regulates ERTE in a period of crisis and puts an end to the ultra-activity and the domination of the company agreement over the sector… These agreements must have the consensus of the whole society as they mean improvements for the majority of employees. However, the effects of these historic agreements have been clouded by the global economic situation. A situation that started with the covid pandemic and, when it seemed to be on track, worsened with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The war has had an impact on price increases, with an increase in energy supplies, food and commodity prices . materials that companies have had a disproportionate impact on the prices of their products, especially energy, electricity and banks, with historical and embarrassing benefits in a period of crisis, when families suffer the worst. Once again, they take advantage of the crisis to get benefits and, in most cases, refuse to distribute them to the working people. They have tried to convince us that wages should be capped, something that has been proven untrue, it is only necessary to review the 47% increase in SMI over the past five years. According to AIReF, the Bank of Spain itself and the CEOE, it would cause the destruction of 600,000 jobs, although they had to rectify it shortly afterwards. The improvement in the minimum wage served as a buffer against the crisis for 220,000 workers and the economy continued to grow. It has been shown that there is no need to impoverish society, that the loss of purchasing power only serves to make quick profits for companies, in addition to hindering the progress of society at large. The happiness of the few at the expense of the survival of the majority. From CC OO we arrived at 1M during the ‘Marches for labor rights in the region of Murcia’ to tell society that giving in enough is enough for others to enjoy our need. We claim rights and decent wages, we walk for dignity. We cannot remain unmoved while a few earn their living at the expense of our daily efforts, deny us the improvement of our quality of life, sink our illusions and lead more and more people into poverty. The improvement in the minimum wage has served as a buffer against the crisis for 220,000 workers and the economy has continued to grow. On May 1, we will demonstrate to demand ‘Raise wages, lower prices and distribute benefits’. We are not going to spread the lie that in times of crisis wages have to be controlled to get out, nor do we want companies to get rich from our efforts. We demand from CC OO that the government works for its region and that it does not base its policies on confrontation with the state, apart from its obligations: the Mar Menor, the flooded economy, irregular employment, its elderly, the deterioration of public services , in short, to his people. We demand that social policies, public services and working conditions of staff be strengthened. We demand the right to decent housing, in accordance with the constitutional mandate; we demand care and dependency policies as civil rights; We demand quality work, an active fight against irregular work and the sunken economy. We demand effective equality between women and men and continue to make progress in the rights of all groups, LGTBI, migrants or people with disabilities. We demand diversity and plurality without any social or employment discrimination; for solidarity and the fight against inequality and poverty. And so we make it known to the regional government and to all citizens, with the celebration of this ‘March for Labor Rights’. From Totana to Murcia and, as every year, in the great demonstrations in which thousands of people demand our right to laugh… and to live better.
Source: La Verdad
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