The Works Council of the EPEL Centers for Art, Culture and Tourism Arrecife has issued a statement addressed to its colleagues. From this entity they have highlighted that they trust "that it is the last time" that they have to respond to what they describe as "unfounded accusations." Thus, they wanted to make their position clear "in the face of certain comments made by some colleagues who seem to confuse union struggle with political demagoguery."
This statement comes to light after the Trade Union Front of Workers of the Canary Islands (FSOC) has issued a text addressed to the committee of the Centers demanding "immediate actions on various issues", in the face of problems of "waste, delays in the payment of productivity and unjustified expenses."
Thus, it has highlighted that "over the last four months of a new democratic stage, we have informed constantly and transparently about the plenary sessions, actions, questions and concerns of the workers." In this line, they have defended that "this exercise of communication has had the majority support of the union representatives, something that had never been achieved before."
The committee has reiterated its commitment to union unity to improve the labor, social and economic conditions of all workers, avoiding useless confrontations. However, it seems that some choose to divert the focus with empty criticisms instead of joining this common task.
They have defended that "during this time, we have held regular meetings with the company management and with the councilor himself, addressing crucial issues such as the approval of substitution bases and demanding explanations on relevant decisions." Likewise, they have warned about the "possible consequences of the lack of responses from the company."
In the statement issued to the workers, they have highlighted that "it is regrettable that in the last two plenary sessions, as well as in the meeting with the councilor in December 2024, where the spending on the chimes was discussed, we have not had the support of certain representatives". In addition, they have denounced that "of six delegates, only one attended, and their lack of involvement was evident in not making a single comment regarding the figures that were presented."
This union has highlighted that "it is incoherent" to hear criticisms about the expenses of the Tourist Centers by those who "remained silent when these expenses were made both by the current and by the previous councilor in activities such as murgas, troupes and carnivals." Likewise, it has assured that "it is unacceptable that this Committee is accused of not offering commissions, when they were proposed to be part of the productivity supplement commission and refused to participate."
In this line, it has added that "it seems equally unacceptable that someone insinuates that we are accomplices of this councilor, when we were the ones who denounced and managed to paralyze a questionable selective process." Thus, the statement has continued warning that "these accusations only seek to cover up years of permissiveness with unnecessary expenses, such as the more than two million euros destined to temporary employment companies (ETT) for five years, a topic that this Committee is already addressing with legal advice.
"We make it clear that we will not allow more internal attacks that divert our attention from what is truly important: the defense of the rights of all workers," the text has highlighted. To conclude, they have added that "we will continue working with transparency and firmness, either in unity or each one on their own path. The latter remains in the conscience of each one. We, for our part, will continue informing and acting responsibly."
Response from the Trade Union Federation of the Canary Islands
The Trade Union Federation of Workers of the Canary Islands abandoned the plenary session held on December 20 at the beginning of the first item on the agenda, indicating "the lack of will" of the committee for the "plenary sessions to be participatory." After that, according to what is stated in the minutes of the aforementioned plenary session, the union decided to leave the room after "they were not allowed to attend" to a worker "without knowing the reason."