Spanish postal workers

21.5.2015

Question for written answer E-008267-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Pablo Iglesias (GUE/NGL) , Miguel Urbán Crespo (GUE/NGL)

This week, workers at Correos — the state-owned enterprise that provides Spain’s postal service — held a series of demonstrations in defence of their rights. Their first action took place on Monday, with a strike involving 85% of employees. In addition to a new collective agreement and deal with improved rights, wages and jobs, their demands included promotions, training and flexibility, in relation both to the working day and to shift times, holidays and leave.

It has been four months since the politicians in charge of the Ministry of Finance and Public Administration, the Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales — the body charged with protecting public investments — and Correos were able to make a serious proposal for breaking the deadlock on the collective agreement for the 52 000 women and men working at Correos. There is now a threat of further job losses, despite the savage employment adjustment of 14 000 jobs in the last five years. Is the Commission considering defending the rights of European workers, as set out in the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights?