Unai Sordo to Seek Final Term as Leader of Comisiones Obreras

Unai Sordo, aged 53 and hailing from Barakaldo, has announced his intention to run for re-election as the Secretary General of Comisiones Obreras (CC OO). This decision was revealed last night via his social media account on X. Sordo aims to secure his third and final term leading the prominent Spanish trade union, which is set to hold its XIII Confederal Congress in June.

Since taking over from Ignacio Fernández Toxo in 2017, Sordo has been at the helm of CC OO, having been the sole candidate at that time. His journey within the union began in the Basque Country, where he served as Secretary General from 2008 until his move to Madrid. He initially entered the world of trade unions in 2000, taking charge of the Youth Secretariat after working several years in the timber industry, following his graduation in social sciences from the University of the Basque Country.

Sordo has been leading the union for eight years and is now looking to extend his leadership for another four years, which is the maximum duration allowed by CC OO's statutes. His leadership has been characterized by strong collaboration with Pepe Álvarez, the leader of UGT, Spain's other major trade union, which has fostered a united front in social dialogue.

One of Sordo's recent achievements includes reaching an agreement with the government to legislate a reduction of the workweek to 37.5 hours by the end of 2025. However, this proposal has not been met with unanimous support from the business sector, which has raised concerns regarding its feasibility in Congress and has led to tensions between the Ministries of Labor and Economy.

Despite his calm demeanor, Sordo has been vocal in his criticism of far-right political parties and the potential threats they pose to workers' rights. He has also frequently challenged business leaders, although he maintains a cordial relationship with Antonio Garamendi, the president of the Confederation of Spanish Business Organizations (CEOE).

Throughout the previous year, CC OO and UGT organized various protests outside business premises across the country, advocating for their support of the proposed workweek reduction, although these efforts did not yield the desired outcome.

Based in Madrid for nearly ten years, Sordo frequently visits Bilbao and has a passion for reading and technology. He has also contributed to several publications focused on labor issues.