Vanessa Frahija from Lanzarote has been elected as General Secretary of the Trade Union Confederation of Workers' Commissions (CCOO) of the Canary Islands, becoming the first woman from a non-capital island to lead the union.
The former general secretary of CCOO in Lanzarote, who replaces Inocencio González in the position, has asserted that the lines of the new executive of the union will be to monitor the discourse of the extreme right and to combat the demonization of the unions, as well as to unify the union structure and look towards the Canary Islands youth.
In statements to the media after the closing of the thirteenth congress of CCOO Canarias this Friday, Frahija Betancor has asserted that it is essential to "maintain the strength" of the Trade Union Confederation of Workers' Commissions, to look to the future, to the youth, to the different realities by islands, to defend the Canary Islands working class.
"Of course we are not going to hesitate, we are not going to look to one side, we are an organization of young people and people prepared to defend the citizens and the working class in our region," said the new union leader.
She added that one of the main challenges is to demand from the Government of the Canary Islands social policies that favor the Canarians, "that will be a fundamental aspect," she said.
"We are a socio-political and feminist union and it is our responsibility, as mandated by Article 7 of the Constitution, to participate in all possible spaces to demand better essential, public and minimum services. In addition to social policies, we are talking about water, housing, transportation, health, education... That young people stay in this wonderful archipelago with the best conditions to carry out their lives without being forced to leave due to lack of housing or a decent job," she said.
The jobs offered in the islands, she insisted, must meet the life expectations of the workers.
Asked about the challenges for sectors such as commerce, hospitality and tourism, Frahija Betancor pointed out that the strike calls made by the Service Federation served to reach an "important" agreement for the province of Las Palmas, in the tourism sector, and that they will continue working to ensure that a beneficial agreement is also reached in the province of Santa Cruz.
"In the end, the working class is all of us, and there can be no discrimination whatsoever, so we will continue working both in the way of trade union action and in the legal way and with the labor authority. We are going to knock on every door we have to knock on because the rights of the working class must prevail," she concluded in reference to the situation of the tourism sector in the islands.
Congratulations from the PSOE of Lanzarote
Thus, the PSOE of Lanzarote has congratulated Vanessa Frahija for her recent election. The PSOE of Lanzarote has celebrated her election as a significant step towards a fairer and more equitable representation in the trade union field, at a time "when the Canary Islands needs firm, combative and socially sensitive references".
The general secretary of the PSOE of Lanzarote and deputy in Congress, María Dolores Corujo, wanted to publicly convey her recognition: "Vanessa represents the voice of those who are not satisfied, who demand real progress in labor rights, equality and social justice. She is a brave, committed woman with a deep knowledge of the struggles we still have pending".
Corujo added that her election "is great news for those of us who believe in the transforming role of trade unionism. Her trajectory, her firmness and her sensitivity make her the ideal person to lead this new stage at the head of CCOO Canarias".