CCOO and UGT lead the general strike on November 11 against CEOE in Catalonia

The unions CCOO and UGT are hardening their stance ahead of the general strike on November 11, which they are directing against the employer CEOE. They also point to Foment del Treball, the Catalan employers' association.

The two unions have increased pressure just days before the call. Unai Sordo and Pepe Álvarez, general secretaries of CCOO and UGT, met this Monday in Barcelona to prepare for the final stretch of the mobilization, as reported by elespanol.com.

The strike, scheduled for November 11, aims to demand wages that allow access to decent housing. The unions position it against the employers' blockade of the agreement for collective bargaining, which would open the door to wage increases.

Álvarez stated that the strike "is aimed at CEOE" and that the organization "has been dragging its feet for over a year." Meanwhile, the general secretary of CCOO in Catalonia, Belén López, urged Foment del Treball to stop complaining about the lack of personnel.

“They should stop being a bottleneck for the economy of Catalonia and for companies, stop crying because they can't find people, offer good wages, and eliminate unpaid overtime.”

López also criticized the Catalan employers for obstructing the equal pay in the social sector. According to the union, this stance makes them "more reactionary than those in Spain."

Regarding the endorsements, Sordo indicated that CCOO has gathered 700 company committees just in Catalonia. The union has already registered 3,400 endorsements across Spain, as reported in a message on X. Álvarez, for his part, assured that the mobilization "will stop all of Baix Llobregat."

The spokesperson for the Sindicat de Llogateres, Carme Arcarazo, estimated that there are more than 4,000 company committees affiliated throughout Spain. This figure includes the support gathered by CGT, Intersindical, CCOO, and UGT, as well as those registered on the website of the Confederation of Tenants' Unions.

The general secretary of UGT in Catalonia, Camil Ros, responded to those opposing the strike. According to him, their arguments come from "the usual ones, those who are against any mobilization."

The unions remind that, for ten years, rents and housing have risen at a much higher rate than wages. Sordo also called for the defense of public services, at a time marked by the train accident in Urda (Toledo).

The call coincides with the lead-up to the general elections, whose campaign starts two days later. The unions deny that the strike has a political character. For the Catalan reader, the day of November 11 may affect mobility and services in the province, so it is advisable to follow the indications of each company and the unions.