The unions took to the streets on Wednesday, in a demonstration that went through the streets of Arrecife. In their march, they passed just a few meters from where, a week before, Felipe Pérez Carral and Víctor ... lost their lives.
The unions took to the streets on Wednesday, in a demonstration that went through the streets of Arrecife. In their march, they passed just a few meters from where, a week before, Felipe Pérez Carral and Víctor Manuel Angulo lost their lives when the crane they were working on collapsed. However, neither the banners, nor the whistles, nor the slogans were for them.
Faced with this tragic workplace accident, the unions have limited themselves to sending press releases of condolences, some even arriving days late, such as that of Comisiones Obreras, which also announced that it will appear in the judicial procedure opened for this case.
But apart from that, nothing. Not a demonstration asking for more labor inspections to demand compliance with security measures, nor a concentration in solidarity with the workers and their families? Not even a miserable minute of silence.
And in this case, the political and institutional representatives of the island did not waste gestures either, beyond the usual press releases. No one showed up for Víctor Manuel's funeral, who was buried on the island (Felipe was buried in his native Galicia).
However, nine days later, the unions did take to the streets, but not for this issue. And neither for the thousands of unemployed on the island, nor for the precariousness of employment in many companies, nor for the lack of political and social response from the responsible administrations. Once again, it was for the civil servants. For public workers who do not know about layoffs.
Among the slogans, yes, is that of the substitute and substitute teachers, those who do not have a permanent position, and criticize the changes related to the reserve lists. Some changes that mean that now, the grade of the opposition will prevail, compared to seniority. That is, new graduates who have obtained a good grade in the opposition will be able to access positions that until now were vetoed to them, because they corresponded to workers who had been working as substitutes for years, but without having obtained a permanent position.
In addition, they also complained about the budget cuts of the Canary Islands Government. Some cuts that, in the case of the Ministry of Education, are mainly focused on the item destined to cover the sick leave of teachers, and for which 7 million euros have been planned, compared to the 34 million euros that were allocated in the 2009 accounts. And judging by the size of medical leave, it seems that educators and health only go hand in hand in the claims.
Undoubtedly, no one takes away their right to demand better working conditions, as long as this does not harm the rest of society. But those who can be demanded is that the unions remember, even if it is from time to time, that there are workers outside the public sector. And some even lose their lives on their first day of work, like Víctor, after having spent a long time unemployed and struggling to get a job.
And in addition, they can also be required to call things by their name. And do not mix labor demands of a group, with the supposed defense of the general interest. Because if what was really being questioned in those demonstrations was the quality of health or education, it should not be the workers and union members who are called, but all the citizens who felt affected.
The problem is that unlike what happens in other areas, where citizens take to the streets even to show their outrage at corruption scandals such as those that have been uncovered on this island, the society of Lanzarote continues to find it difficult to mobilize. And the social groups that once had strength in Lanzarote, ended up self-destructing when they came into contact with politics.