Environment and Mobility Councillor Tatiana Gaudes on Friday appealed to the responsibility of the company and the unions and called for "a willingness to negotiate, a commitment to the public and keeping their word". She said the objective must be to reach an agreement that improves workers’ conditions while preventing the dispute from affecting residents during dates that are especially important for Zaragoza. "A deal must be reached," she summed up.
CGT and CCOO, for their part, maintain that there has been "no progress of any kind in the meetings held" and accuse FCC of proposing wage increases below the CPI, as well as failing to introduce improvements in work-life balance, job stability, internal promotion, equality or reduced working hours. The unions also criticize the failure to comply with agreements on holidays, partial retirement and weekend staff. Both sides will meet again next Tuesday.
CITY COUNCIL HOPES TO UNBLOCK NEGOTIATIONS
Gaudes recalled that talks were suspended for around 15 or 20 days in August and stressed the need to resume dialogue. "Residents are absolutely not to blame," the councillor said, calling for any solution to the dispute to take into account both the workers’ demands and the provision of services during the Fiestas del Pilar.
The city official cited agreements reached in other public services in Zaragoza, such as bus services and the Parks and Gardens service, in which the City Council also played a mediating role. She explained that her intention is to maintain the same position in an effort to ensure that negotiations between FCC and the unions reach a successful conclusion.
"I am fully convinced that we will achieve the same in this case," Gaudes said, expressing confidence that the next meetings will unblock the dispute and prevent the strike from taking place during the Fiestas del Pilar.
