The Strike Committee and the management of the Tourist Centers met this Thursday before the Canary Labor Court, but the meeting ended without an agreement. After a new proposal was put on the table by the Court, the session had to be suspended and they agreed to continue it on Monday, so the stoppages could last at least four more days.
The reason for not continuing the meeting this Thursday is that the members of the Court, who had traveled to Lanzarote to attend this mediation, had to catch the return flight. And although the Strike Committee maintains that they were proposed to continue this Friday or Saturday, even in Gran Canaria, the response was that they already had other commitments.
"We could continue talking with the company without the court. We hope they will call us as soon as possible," say the representatives of the workers, who state that they expected to reopen the Centers and return to their jobs after this meeting.
What they have finally called for this Friday is a press conference at the Farmer's Monument, to which they have invited "all the workers" and "all the political groups". The meeting will be at 9 in the morning and in it they announce that they will inform "firsthand, with light and stenographer, of the conflict generated by the Management in the CACT".
Eugenio considers that it is "the only logical proposal"
For his part, the Minister of Tourism of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Echedey Eugenio, has thanked "the professionalism, diligence and dedication of the Canary Labor Court", and maintains that he has transferred "the only logical proposal that exists at this point, aligned with the agreement reached by the Board of Directors last Tuesday". That agreement was supported by Coalición Canaria, Partido Socialista, Podemos, Partido Popular and Ciudadanos, although Eugenio also includes Somos, since he considers that "with their abstention they supported it". In addition, it also received the approval of the representatives of the town halls of Haría, Yaiza and Tinajo and of the tourist employers' associations.
Now, the counselor explains that he will transfer this proposal to the Board of Directors in a session "that will be convened in the next few hours". Finally, Eugenio appeals "to the common sense of the workers" and invites them to "carry out a deep and unhurried reflection" to reach an agreement that emanates "from an independent body such as the Canary Labor Court".
The time set to give that answer is next Monday, at 9 o'clock, when they have agreed to meet again to give an answer before the Court. In total, according to the management of the Centers, the proposal raised by this body consists of nine points.
Proposal for agreement of the Labor Court:
1st The Entity undertakes to maintain the public management of all departments and sectors of activity of the Tourist Centers, avoiding their externalization, provided that the objectives of budgetary stability defined in Law 7/1985 of April 2, regulating the Bases of the Local Regime (literal of the minutes of the collective agreement in force) are met in the Entity.
2nd The Entity ratifies that the workers of the EPEL-CACT are public employees of the local business public entity and, consequently, will respect and recognize all the rights that correspond to them (including those related to the reconciliation of work and family life).
3rd The Entity will introduce measures aimed at reconciling work and family life.
4th The Entity undertakes to respond to the writings of the Works Council addressed to the Management of the company within a maximum period of 20 days.
5th The parties agree that in relation to the availability, transport and laundry allowances (art. 11.3 of the collective agreement), the workers will be paid in accordance with the provisions of the salary table of the company collective agreement, that is, in 12 monthly payments, and for the amounts that appear in said table, regardless of whether they are enjoying vacations. The foregoing shall be done without deducting said amount from the personal supplement. All this in accordance with the judgment of the TSJC of October 2016.
6th The parties agree that in relation to the personal supplement (art. 23.3 collective agreement), those workers who, after calculating their annual remuneration with the new agreement, the same is less than what they were receiving, will be entitled to receive it, in which case the difference will be paid as said supplement, and otherwise, will receive the amount resulting from the new agreement without any modification. All this, in accordance with the judgment of the Social Court No. 3 of Lanzarote, dated March 31, 2016.
7th The parties agree to hold monthly periodic meetings between the Management and the Works Council, in principle, on the second Tuesday of each month, and that the workers are aware of the decisions and motivations of the Entity.
8th The Strike Committee agrees to call off the strike today.
9th The Court proposes a social peace clause consisting of not resorting to collective conflict measures and/or strike without going to the Joint Committee, which will be held before the Canary Labor Court in the form of conciliation or mediation.
