Erkoreka assures that the Ertzaintza acted “within the law” with the pickets of the metal strike

On Wednesday, in Artea, there was an intervention by the Ertzaintza which, according to the unions, caused four injuries. CCOO and LAB have considered it “serious” that the Basque Government endorse this police action “that represses” the workers.

The Security adviser, Josu Erkorekahas ensured that the Ertzaintza acted in accordance with the law in his speech this Wednesday with strikers from the metal sector of Bizkaia who formed a picket line in Artea; According to what the unions denounced, this intervention caused four injuries during a police charge.

Erkoreka thus responded in the plenary session of the Basque Parliament to a question from the parliamentarian of Elkarrekin Podemos-IU Iñigo Martínez, who has asked for explanations for this police intervention and has shown photos of the injuries suffered by these workers caused, according to what he said, by the Ertzaintza.

This debate has been followed from the guest rostrum by representatives of some of the unions that have called the strike in the Metal sector, which this Friday have seconded the fifth and last day of strike this week in protest against the paralysis of the agreement collective.

Martínez recalled that the picket line is “protected by law”, and has denounced that, given the peaceful action of the workers, the Ertzaintza’s response is “harassment, persecution and repression”.

On the day of the police intervention, Wednesday, the Ertzaintza indicated that what took place was “an altercation” with the strikers when they tried to identify the members of the picket line. At that moment, according to the Ertzaintza, “the nearly 300 concentrates jumped on top of the patrols, insulted them and even kicked them.”

The counselor has insisted that if “someone” does an “excess” violating or hindering the rights of other people “they act”, and added that, if “certain activities” occur, they must always be contained within the framework of the law .

After these words of the counselor, two union representatives, Luis Moulia (CCOO) and Zigor Azpiolea (LAB), in the corridors of Parliament, have considered “serious” that the Basque Government endorses this police action “that represses” the workers.

Mediation

In plenary session, parliamentarian Iker Casanova asked the Minister of Labor and Employment, Idoia Mendia, about the role of her Department in mediating in this metal conflict that affects some 50,000 workers.

Mendia has made it clear that the Basque Government will always help resolve these conflicts, but has stressed that the parties, that is, employers and unions, They have not yet requested the Department’s mediation, so collective bargaining must be respected.

The counselor has also been convinced that there will finally be an agreement, and has called on the two parties to reach a solution as soon as possible.

Following this response, the union representatives have reproached the Department of Mendia for putting itself “in profile”, since, according to what they have said, the Basque Government “is there to defend” the workers. The strike is called by CCOO, LAB, UGT, ESK, CGT and CNT, on the one hand, and by ELA, on the other. The unions demand, among other demands, salary increases that guarantee the purchasing power of workers.