The UGT Lanzarote union has called a series of events with a "protest character" on May 1, where it will advocate for "salary increases, price containment and a more egalitarian situation" for workers.
César Reyes, general secretary of the UGT in Lanzarote, explained that the planned events "are marked by the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the UGT on the island, but also by the new situation of normality."
The day will begin at 12 noon at the Esperanza Espínola Theater in Teguise with the presentation of the VIII Edition of the "Miguel Barrios Miralles" awards for trade union work, which this year goes to Jesús Betancort de León, Orlando Suárez Curbelo, Lorenzo Viejo Alemán and the AFA Lanzarote Works Council.
Afterwards, issues such as salary increases will be discussed, since the union insists that "with an inflation of 10%, if salaries or pensions are not increased in accordance with the CPI, there will be an impoverishment of the social majority."
UGT hopes that the Government "will make its commitment a reality that the SMI will be at 60% of the average salary in 2023", that is, that it reaches 1,064 euros, and recalls that "only 16% of workers have a revision clause".
Price containment will also take center stage during the day, due to the constant increase in the costs of electricity or fuel. "The Government of Spain and the EU must adopt all necessary measures to end the speculation that occurs in the prices of energy and other essential products," says the general secretary, and adds that the measures taken so far are "absolutely insufficient." "The most urgent and necessary thing is to support families and people who are in a more vulnerable situation," adds César Reyes.
It will also advocate for continuing to advance in equality issues, since "discriminations against women, migrants and the LGTBI collective still persist" and will defend the 32-hour week, a just ecological transition and the need for a major reform of the Workers' Statute for the 21st century.
In addition, the claim will have as its premise a Trade Union Day of prevention of occupational hazards, aimed at delegates from the sector on the occasion of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, and which will feature several practical workshops on April 28 at 09:30 hours.
The following day, the event will focus on addressing issues such as the need to promote safety and health at work, since "people continue to die in Spain due to work accidents", reports UGT, and put those deaths at "145 so far in 2022".
