Unions challenge Yaiza's budgets and warn of "covert privatization" of services

The UGT, Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), and the Sindicato Profesional (SPPLB) unions, which represent the majority of public employees of the Yaiza City Council, have filed a formal complaint with the municipal plenary against the approval of the 2026 general budgets. 

The union organizations have demanded "radical nullity" of the personnel items after noting "serious legal infractions and a deliberate attempt to evade mandatory collective bargaining." 

They denounce the absolute blockage of social dialogue 

The Works Committee and the Civil Servant Delegates have publicly denounced the "absolute lack of political will and the null capacity for collective bargaining that the mayor of the City Council continuously demonstrates."

Thus, the workers' representatives point out that the government group "borders on contempt for basic labor rights." In this regard, they point out:

● "Broken Calendar in the Labor Agreement": the unions have indicated that last April the Collective Agreement Negotiation Table was formally constituted, unanimously approving a binding calendar to hold working meetings every other Wednesday (every 15 days). However, "two months later, the mayor has not convened a single meeting, leaving the calendar as a dead letter." 

● "Paralysis in the Civil Servants' Agreement": the union groups point out that "after more than 60 days since that commitment, the City Council has not even constituted the Negotiating Table for the Civil Servants' Agreement, preventing any progress in the rights of public personnel." 

The representatives of the General Negotiation Table, UGT and CCOO have denounced that the 2026 accounts were processed "by stealing this social debate" through a mere "reporting," thus "violating the Basic Statute of Public Employees" (TREBEP) at a time of "maximum internal paralysis."

They expose "cuts and organizational chaos" 

The document of allegations details a scenario of "serious organizational arbitrariness and unilateral remuneration" integrated into the budget initially approved last May.

Among the points they denounce, they have pointed out the "disguised elimination of positions," where the council would have eliminated "nine vacant positions," eight of permanent labor personnel and one of civil servant. 

At the same time, they have indicated that "positions without criteria" have been created. "Five new positions are created (three civil servant and two labor) without having an approved and updated Staffing Plan (RPT) that technically orders resources."

The unions have also presented alleged "hand-picked salary increases," in which "unilateral pay modifications to destination and specific allowances would be imposed, raising the levels of national authorized civil servants from level 28 to 30 without applying objective criteria or prior negotiation."

"A vacancy rate close to 50%"

The unions have warned that the council is dragging "a structural vacancy rate close to 50% due to the null execution of the Public Employment Offers (OEP) from previous years." Thus, they have warned that this lack of technical personnel directly affects crucial areas such as the Technical Office, Social Services, Human Resources, and the SAC of Playa Blanca.

In this regard, they have indicated that the situation is "especially critical" in operational and citizen security services. For example, in the Local Police, where eighteen essential positions remain vacant (one sub-inspector, seven officers, and ten police officers).

● Minimum Services: The Mobile Fleet lacks plumbers, electricians, maintenance operators, and street cleaning personnel.

● Protected Areas: There is a lack of controllers for the Natural Monument of Los Ajaches and the Timanfaya National Park.

Privatization and Outsourcing of Public Services

For the union forces, this "intentional strangulation" of public personnel responds to "a clear political strategy." The unions have assured that the City Council is "massively diverting public funds" towards Chapter 2 (Expenses for current goods and services) to allegedly "privatize and covertly outsource essential municipal services," incurring alleged fraud of law by "replacing public employment with private contracts."

Finally, the unions have formally requested the Plenary to halt the final approval of the budget. In addition, they have demanded to urgently convene the General Negotiation Table, reactivate the agreed-upon alternate Wednesdays for the Labor Agreement, immediately establish the Civil Servants' Table, fill the 18 positions in the Local Police, and "stop privatizations."