Union rejection of Catalan language exemptions for hard-to-fill civil service positions

PalmThe Balearic government is finalizing new exceptions to the Catalan language requirement for certain technical civil service positions considered hard to fill, a measure that has already sparked strong union opposition. The Workers' Commissions (CCOO) of the Balearic Islands has responded to the announcement, warning that the initiative represents "a frontal and unjustified attack" on the Balearic language and the right of citizens to be served in Catalan.

The CCOO union denounces the fact that the proposal was presented without prior notice or negotiation with the unions, which, according to the union, demonstrates once again the government's lack of willingness to reach a consensus on public service matters. "This is the first we've heard of it," they state, emphasizing that collective bargaining channels are being bypassed once again. The union rejects the use of the difficulty in filling certain positions as a pretext for curtailing language rights and maintains that the problem is not Catalan, but rather the lack of a serious human resources policy. In this regard, CCOO points out that there are real alternatives to make these jobs more attractive, such as improving supplements for hard-to-fill positions, adjusting salaries, and eliminating bureaucratic requirements unrelated to professional competence. Finally, the Workers' Commissions demands the immediate withdrawal of the proposal and calls for the opening of a genuine dialogue process with the unions. For the organization, singling out Catalan as the problem is an ideological strategy that masks structural issues such as job insecurity, difficulties accessing housing, and a lack of political will to guarantee decent working conditions in the public sector. Union sources reiterate: "Language is not the problem."