May Day between demands and appeals to struggle and confrontation

Basque unions face the commemoration of the First of May between appeals to struggle and social confrontation to achieve improvements and demands focused on achieving better salaries and shorter working hours.

In Hegoaldeone more year, the representative unions will celebrate the day disunited, with the exception of CCOO and UGT of Euskadi, who will do it jointly; and one more year, Bilbao will be the main scene of the demonstrations called, with the exception of the one promoted by LAB, which will bring together its militants and sympathizers in Pamplona. For its part, Euskal Herriko Kontseilu Sozialista (EHKS) has called a demonstration in Bilbao under the slogan “There is an alternative.” The mobilization will begin around 1:00 p.m. from the Sacred Heart and will end in the Plaza del Gas around 2:30 p.m.

In Iparralde, on the contrary, five unions have called for a joint demonstration in Baiona (Lapurdi). Unions CFDT, CGT, FSU, LAB and Solidaires They will mobilize under the motto “It is not a fatality. For the distribution of goods!” The protesters will leave at 11:00 a.m. from the Santa Úrsula union headquarters, in the Santizpiritu neighborhood. The demonstration will end in the market square, where, as reported by the organizers, “a union village” will be organized, with food and drink, since “it is an important moment to talk among the workers.”

Bilbao’s Gran Vía will also be filled again with thousands of people in response to the call to demonstrate by ELA, CCOO and UGT, as well as other minority unions, who will emphasize their demands and strategies within the framework of the International Day of Workers.

THE Athe majority union, has called for mobilizations both in Bilbao and Pamplonaalthough its general secretary, Mitxel Lakuntza, will harangue his people and urge them to fight from the mobilization organized in the capital of Biscay.

“Antolatu, borrokatu, irabazi (Organize, fight, win)” is the motto chosen this year by ELA, from the conviction that “achievements for the working class” only come from the union struggle and that “social change will only come through political, social and union confrontation,” according to Lakuntza.

The union leader defends that “the more union struggle and the more strikes, the more and better agreements” will be achieved and maintains that the achievements for the working class will not come “neither from the institutions nor from the social dialogue tables.”

Also supporters of mobilization, but with a different analysis in relation to social dialogue, considering it a valid instrument to advance the achievement of social and labor rights, CCOO and UGT of Euskadi They have focused this May Day on demanding better salaries and a reduction in working hours.

These unions will hold joint demonstrations under the slogan “Enpleguaren alde. Less working hours, more salaries”. In Bilbao, the general secretaries of CCOO and UGT of Euskadi, Loli García and Raúl Arza, respectively, will take part, for whom “the time has come” to reduce the working day and ask for better salaries in a context of “brutal” benefits business.

For LABthis May Day is special since this year the Abertzale union is immersed in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of its foundation and will commemorate Workers’ Day with a “national” mobilization in Pamplona.

Your demonstration will start from Castle plaza and will travel through the streets of the Navarrese capital until reaching the Anaitasuna pavilionwhere the main event of the day will take place, followed by a meal and concerts throughout the afternoon.

On this May Day, the center has reaffirmed its founding commitment, which is to “continue opening the way towards national liberation and the social transformation of the Basque people through the organization and struggle of the workers,” according to has pointed out.

Steilas He has called to demonstrate in Errenteria at 9:45 a.m. from Alameda; in Bilbao at 11:30 a.m., from Gran Vía 56; in Pamplona at 12:00 p.m. from the Plaza de los Ajos; and in Vitoria-Gasteiz at 12:30 p.m. from the Europa Palace.

On the occasion of the celebration of International Workers’ Day, the Government of Navarra has expressed its commitment and defense of the fundamental principles and rights at work declared by the ILO, as a fundamental element for fair economic and social prosperity.

For his part, the acting spokesperson of the Basque governmentBingen Zupiria, has reiterated his commitment to “negotiation, dialogue and agreement” in the workplace.

EH Bilduin a statement, pointed out that “now” is the time to defend workers’ rights and “the political and social conditions are in place to advance their achievement.”