The approval of the agreement paves the way for investments in Mercedes Vitoria and ends the mobilizations

Basque trade unions and institutions have celebrated the support of Mercedes-Benz staff at the Vitoria-Gasteiz plant for the renewal of the collective agreement, which will make it easier for the car multinational to invest 1,200 million in this plant and put an end to the protests of recent weeks.

A majority, in particular 57%of the factory’s workforce (2,601 people) has signed the preliminary agreement reached between the trade union majority (CC. OO., UGT, Ekintza and PIM) and the leaders around the extension of the collective labor agreement of the plant.

The other three plants, ELA, LAB and ESK, which opposed the agreed text, eventually decided to cancel the three strikes planned for tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The very high turnout (94.69%) in Monday’s referendum shows the importance of the vote. The Mercedes-Benz plant is the largest company in the Basque Country, with 5,000 employees. Likewise, the factory supports an additional 30,000 indirect jobs.

According to data provided by union sources, 43% of staff (1939 people) voted against of the preliminary agreement, in line with the appeal of ELA, LAB and ESK (14 representatives), critical of the agreement reached by the rest of the plants, as the salary increase is “inadequate”.

The results differ per workplace. While in offices the “yes” has been wiped out (90% of employees supported the agreement), the “no” is imposed in workshops (at 52%).

Union assessment

The signatory unions of the preliminary agreement (CC. OO., UGT, Ekintza and PIM, 17 deputies) have welcomed the recognition of the staff.

DC. OO. has described as “historic decision” the approval of the preliminary agreement. “It was essential for the future of the factory as it will involve the largest investment in its history and above all improve the conditions of the workers,” he explained in a statement.

UGT Basque Country He has expressed his hope that the workers who rejected the preliminary agreement for the new deal at Mercedes Benz in Vitoria-Gasteiz will join Mercedes Benz in Vitoria-Gasteiz and the “majority will”.

“Those who voted no, out of respect for their decision, we hope they will join the agreement, accept the majority of staff in the polls, adhere to and sign the result of said consultation,” he confided to affirming that “that’s real democracy.

Speaking with Euskadi Irratia, Mikel Díaz de Alda (LABORATORY) explained that despite the fact that the “no” vote has won in the workshops, the total number is ultimately leaning towards “yes”, mainly thanks to the clear support obtained in offices and in the telematic voting. However, the union is “happy” with the mobilizations of staff in recent weeks, who have managed to halt production during the nine days of strike.

“The staff have shown that they have fought and want to fight for decent working conditions and that this is the way to achieve better working conditions in the next agreements,” he added.

It’s a statement, THE A has appreciated “the period of struggle” of the workforce, whose mobilizations marked “a turning point in the history of the trade union struggle at Mercedes” and put the negotiations in “a better situation than the one in which the company and its allies held” .

Likewise, he has emphasized the ‘no’ given by the workshop, as the measures will be applied to it. Likewise, he has criticized both the circumstances in which the referendum was held and “the role of the Basque government, which exerts direct pressure on the Mercedes staff, so that they submissively accept a message that is incorrect: the companies’ investment decisions do not depend on are of the templates that accept cuts or attacks on the mediation”.

management review

For its part, the management of the Mercedes plant in Vitoria-Gasteiz He thanked the staff for their “commitment to a hopeful future” for this factory.

What is in the preliminary agreement?

According to the document finally supported, the template has a raise consolidated rate of 6% in 2022 and an annual increase of 2.25% between 2023 and 2026, on top of the withdrawal from the ‘sixth night’.

The agreement also proposes the retirement of more than 250 people through assistance contracts, for operators who meet current legal requirements. In addition to the conversion of 400 temporary contracts into undetermined time150 of them at the signing of the agreement.

In addition, they collect goal-based payments; if the production of 200,000 vehicles per year is exceeded, 500 euros will be awarded; and a profit distribution of 2,250 euros per year based on indicators.

Assessment of settings

The spokesman for the Basque government, Bingen Zupiriahas expressed its satisfaction and underlined the “challenge” of convincing the multinational that this factory is “the best location for the large investment it intends to make”.

The Deputy General of Álava, Ramiro Gonzalezhas stressed that the guarantee is “unsurpassed news that consolidates much of the future of Alava’s economy” and that “opens an optimistic horizon, absolutely essential for Álava, in these times of global uncertainty”.

The Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Gorka Urtaranhas assured that the approval Mercedes Vitoria staff has given to the pre-deal is a “huge step to consolidate an important investment”.

In the same vein, the Deputy Minister of Industry of the Basque governmentMikel Amundarain, has described the support of the Alava plant’s staff as an “important step”, which he believes “closes” the investment of 1.2 billion announced by the multinational and “gives stability to industrial relations in a context of great uncertainty”.

Employer assessment

The General Manager of the Employers’ Association of Alava SEA, John Ugartehas ruled that the aid is “wonderful news” and shows that after the conflict of recent months “common sense has triumphed”.