CNT STRIKE COMMITTEE SIGNS AGREEMENT ON WAGES AND CONDITIONS WITH THE AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING COMPANY ~ from CNT Seville ~ The strike at GAZC Sevilla SL, called by CNT and started on October 6, ended yesterday with the signing of a strike settlement agreement. The agreement includes a new bonus system that more fairly compensates night work, promotions, a new professional classification system, greater participation in the creation of the work schedule, and increased flexibility in choosing vacation days. Payment of wages during vacations is corrected, and measures are taken to ensure job stability and guarantee rights for union representation. Mechanisms have been added to the agreement to maintain a climate of dialogue and negotiation so that, in the future, an attempt can be made to avoid the escalation of a possible conflict. The strike ends after a tough conflict that was finally resolved thanks to the impetus given to negotiations by both sides a couple of weeks ago, the result of the willingness of both the union and the company to restart dialogue and end an indefinite strike that ultimately lasted 72 days. Following a constructive final negotiation process, both the union and the company consider the agreement reached to be balanced, with mutual concessions that have made it possible to end the strike. Both parties hope that the signing of the agreement will usher in a new era of mutual understanding, aimed at resolving any future disagreements through dialogue. The post Strike at GAZC Seville ends after 72 days appeared first on Freedom News.

THE STRIKE FUND AND THE SUPPORT OF SOCIAL AND NEIGHBOURHOOD GROUPS KEEP MORALE HIGH ~ CNT Sevilla ~ Fifty days have passed since the workforce of  Gazc Sevilla SL, an aeronautical company, decided to take a stand. They did so on 6 October, calling an indefinite strike under the banner of the  CNT Sevilla union . Fifty days later, the standoff remains firm, with no agreement in sight, but with one certainty: “Our spirits haven’t waned. We are more united than ever and standing up to the company,” says Jesús, one of the striking workers. The spark ignited after months of breaches of contract: ignored professional categories, illegal cuts in vacation pay, imposed work schedules, and a progressive erosion of rights.” We’ve always been on triple shifts, with very poorly paid nights because the collective agreement leaves us vulnerable. The afternoons are awful, and the company forces us to work overtime, even though they deny it,” Jesús complains.The creation of the CNT union branch in May was a response to a wave of layoffs and mounting frustration. Far from negotiating, the company rejected all demands. The assembly then decided to launch an indefinite strike with clear objectives: recognition of job categories, improvements for night shift workers, job security, and an end to the cuts. “If we didn’t have this strike fund and the support of the union, we wouldn’t have lasted 50 days like we have,” admits Jesús. “The management at Gazc Sevilla hasn’t lifted a finger. They keep pretending everything’s fine, that they’re meeting production targets, but from the outside it’s clear they’re not meeting them. They’re resorting to strikebreaking, both internal and external, forcing overtime, and leaving machines running,” the worker explains. The management has resorted to illegal practices: “We’ve already caught them working weekends; we have videos and filed complaints with the Civil Guard. They’re facing penalties.” The company, which receives substantial public subsidies, prefers to absorb losses, pay for private security—”22,000 or 23,000 euros a month“—and install cameras rather than address demands that the strikers describe as “modest.” “It’s not about money; they’re not giving in because of pride. They refuse to back down in the face of a strike,” Jesús concludes.The strike has strengthened membership: from 20 to almost 40 workers in the union section. “People have seen it clearly: the union is a valid tool. Without the CNT, this wouldn’t be possible,” he affirms. The Strike Fund and the support of social groups like Barrios Hartos and Gente de Barrio keep morale high. “There are good days and bad days, but there are always comrades who lift you up when you’re feeling down. If one of us is feeling down, another goes and encourages him. That’s how we’re holding on,” Jesús confesses. The conflict has also exposed the role of other unions. “UGT has always sided with the company. They’ve never achieved anything for the workers, only for those on the morning shift. Now they’ve issued statements against us, even questioning the legality of the strike,” Jesús complains. “Whenever we raised our voices, they ignored us. This time was no different .”The demands are clear and specific. “The ideal agreement hinges on two points: a €150 bonus to compensate for the overtime others work that we can’t, and more flexible vacation time to better balance work and family life. If they close for three weeks in the summer, they should give us one week off to choose from at another time,” Jesús explains. “If the company agrees to that, we can reach an agreement. But we’re not going to negotiate down the price.” To understand the magnitude of the conflict, it’s helpful to know what these workers do: “We machine aircraft parts. We’re the first link, the most important, because if we don’t produce, the rest can’t work. And we’re the ones who suffer the most: three shifts, poorly paid nights, and constant pressure to work overtime.” The question hangs in the air. How much longer can this last? “It’s a matter of time. But the moment will come when they have to sit down, one way or another”, Jesús asserts. His prediction: “I don’t think they can hold out much longer. They’re behind on their payments and risking lawsuits. I think it will be sooner than many expect”. Meanwhile, the strike continues to set the pace at Gazc Sevilla. A struggle that, beyond the numbers, speaks of workers’ dignity in the face of corporate arrogance. Because, as they repeat on the picket line, “if we don’t fight, nobody will fight for us”. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Machine translation   The post GAZC Seville strike enters 50th day appeared first on Freedom News.