The workers of Lanzarote Bus, Guaguas Lanzarote, Jocaba and Guaguas Jocaba decided this Monday in assembly to continue the strike, when 39 days of indefinite strike have already been completed.
“There are people who are already very distressed, who yesterday did not even have money to make a purchase”, they say from Intersindical Canaria, which explains that some of the workers are living thanks to solidarity. In fact, they point out that this Monday they received financial aid provided by workers from Titsa and supporters, as well as another from Ultramar Express Lanzarote. “Those who are better off financially, shared their part with those who are in a worse situation”, adds the union, which states that it was “a very hard day”. “More than one of us cried like children because of the mixed feelings”, they say from the Transport Federation of Intersindical Canaria, which adds that “this solidarity gesture has renewed the desire to fight”.
In the assembly held that afternoon, the decision to continue the strike did not go ahead unanimously as on other occasions, but with a clear majority of 44 votes in favor, 8 against and one null vote.
The workers' representatives had met in the morning with the management of the companies, but again without progress. “We are not going to put adjectives on them since they themselves are portraying themselves day after day. The company's management, like an angry child, no longer hides that it does not want to give in to anything. It only maintains its position to cause damage, according to the literal words of its representative, for having gone on strike”, denounces IC.
Thus, he affirms that in that meeting “they returned to make the same ridiculous offer of the first day: an 8% salary increase in some concepts and later another 2%, which means, in total, 30 and a few gross euros per month. And no talk of removing or reducing the split shift, which is the main reason for this strike”, insists the union.
In that meeting, he maintains that they also told them that they will not give in “even if the strike lasts six months and the company goes bankrupt”, alleging that “the company is the one that has to adapt to the demand and not the other way around”.
“In other words, although work services and shifts can be organized for the workers, it is very comfortable for the company to have the lives of these people at its whim, for whatever arises, and it is not good for them to let go of this bargain”, denounces Intersindical.
In addition, he regrets that “there was also no gesture from politics, which met with this management a few hours later and from whose meeting they barely made statements, except that the company's management does not accept a mediator to resolve the matter and that they had commented 'their offer', also indicating that the workers have two days to accept it, and that if they do not do so within the indicated period, they will withdraw it”.
With this, according to the union, “they try to put the workers between a rock and a hard place to achieve their purpose that, with the haste, the workers could make a decision lightly”.
“On top of that, arrogance and threats. Well, they have it clear”, warns Intersindical Canaria, which emphasizes that “they continue in the fight” and the strike will continue.
