Protests Planned Against Repeal of Pension Increases and Transportation Aid
The two largest labor unions in Spain, UGT and CC OO, have announced plans for public demonstrations on Sunday, February 2, in response to the repeal of the omnibus decree in Congress. This decree aimed to secure the revaluation of pensions, transportation subsidies, and an extension of the minimum wage. In a joint statement released on Thursday, the unions called on the public to participate en masse in these protests and invited other social, labor, and political organizations that share their concerns to join the mobilization efforts.
While the unions have not yet disclosed specific locations for the protests, they suggest that gatherings will likely take place in provincial capitals. They are urging the government to implement a new package of measures through a royal decree law. Furthermore, they demand that these measures be ratified by Congress afterward, asserting that vulnerable populations should not be held hostage to political maneuvering that undermines necessary legislation, many of which have previously received support from those who are now opposing them.
In their statement, UGT and CC OO specifically criticized those political parties that voted against the decree, naming Junts, the Popular Party (PP), and Vox. The unions expressed their strong disapproval of what they perceive as political opportunism that imposes significant burdens on the public. Both the PP and Junts have indicated a willingness to support pension revaluation if the government proposes it separately rather than as part of a larger failed omnibus decree.
Cuca Gamarra, the secretary general of the Popular Party, stated on a public broadcast that the government would receive PP support if it convened an extraordinary Council of Ministers to approve pension revaluation. Similarly, Jordi Turull, the secretary general of Junts, mentioned in an interview that the government should consider convening a council to enact three or four social measures that they believe could receive bipartisan support. He added that pension increases could be addressed in a separate decree.
According to the unions, millions of individuals will be impacted by these legislative changes. This includes pensioners who would not see increases in both contributory and non-contributory pensions, as well as those receiving minimum wage and guaranteed income. Moreover, users of public transportation, vulnerable individuals at risk of eviction, and those who rely on assistance for essential services are all likely to feel the effects of these cuts. The unions characterized this situation as an unprecedented attack on the social majority, especially affecting vulnerable groups, the working class, and lower-income populations overall.
