More than a hundred people gathered this Friday on the Born promenade in Palma, called by UGT, to protest against a state agreement in the commerce sector that, according to the union, could mean a reduction in salary and rights for thousands of workers in the Islands.

The Government does not plan to approve any major measures against overcrowding this legislative term and, in fact, no longer considers an increase in the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS) necessary. This has been stated advanced the ARA Baleares And this has been confirmed by the First Vice President, Antoni Costa, at a press conference. In his view, given that the increase in tourist arrivals during peak season has remained below 1%, "extraordinary measures" such as this increase are no longer "necessary." This represents a change of position by the government, which last December defended this measure and agree to move forward with the PSIB"This is the culmination of two years of deception by Prohens, who has repeatedly lied about her commitment to addressing tourist overcrowding," laments Socialist MP Llorenç Pou.

The UGT Public Services union has denounced the lack of collective bargaining in the dissolution process of the Palma Municipal Housing and Comprehensive Neighborhood Rehabilitation Board (PMHRIBA) and has demanded that the working conditions of the 25 employees, who have been incorporated into the Palma City Council's staff, be maintained. The union has denied that the dissolution of this body was negotiated with the workers, as recently stated by the Councilor for Urban Planning and Housing, Óscar Fidalgo, reminding him that "informing is not negotiating." UGT Public Services has insisted that the dissolution of the Palma Municipal Housing Board was not negotiated with either the staff representatives or at the Palma City Council's joint general negotiation table, which are the "only legal channels that guarantee real and effective negotiation," as established by current labor regulations. "The only thing that has been given to the staff is a document called the Organizational Plan, which cannot be considered as such because it is limited to indicating departmental assignments and generic staff functions," complained sources from UGT Public Services. The union considers it "extremely serious" that the dissolution of the Housing Board was approved without negotiating an organizational plan that defines issues such as the working hours of its former staff, the actual functions of the positions, and compensation. "It cannot be stated that working conditions will be maintained when they have not been previously analyzed or negotiated," lamented UGT Public Services. The union has again demanded that a "real" negotiation process be opened "immediately," starting with the Housing Board representatives and continuing at the general negotiation table of the Palma City Council. "Administrative reorganization cannot be carried out at the expense of labor rights, nor through unilateral decisions that violate the fundamental right to collective bargaining. The absence of social dialogue and the imposition of decisions that directly affect working conditions cannot be normalized," concluded UGT Public Services.

On October 15, the UGT and CCOO organized two-hour work stoppages in all workplaces with the aim of "demonstrating that the world of work does not look the other way and also singles out Israel as a genocidal state," explained José Luis García, Secretary General of the Workers' Commissions of the Balearic Islands. Both unions formally registered the call for action in the Islands (which will also be carried out in the rest of Spain) this Tuesday with the Ministry of the Presidency. All employees—both in public and private companies—will be able to show their support for Palestine from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (morning shifts), from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. if they work in the afternoon, and from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. if they work at night.

The Public Services Federation of the UGT Balearic Islands has requested an investment plan for air conditioning and ventilation in schools so that "it does not depend on families or staff." This is one of the demands put forward by the union in response to the news. published this Friday in the ARA Baleares, which explains that families and teachers have financed the purchase of fans and air conditioning equipment "out of pocket."

Unions continue negotiations with companies handling to put an end to the strike staff that has caused delays in baggage collection and canceled flights at some airports in Spain, including Son Sant Joan. UGT is asking subcontracted companies to Aena "that they value their workers and abide by the signed agreements," explains José Negreira, secretary of the UGT airline sector in the Balearic Islands. "We cannot allow them to be slaves. We want them to have a normal life," he denounces.

The new hospitality industry agreement has raised a storm among unions. A week after the agreement between the UGT and the employers' association, the CCOO (Working Council of Workers' Unions) hasn't given up on its demands. "The 13.5% increase doesn't justify the rollback of certain rights," says the union's general secretary. CCOO BalearesJosé Luis García. The union considers it "unacceptable" that sick leave coverage has worsened and that the sixth day of work has been "sold out." This is even more so in a context where the CCOO (Working Council of Workers) was seeking a 15% pay increase.