The ELA-Zerbitzuak federation will redouble its efforts in the fight against job insecurity and the wage gap, after carrying out 100 strikes in 4 years
The Congress of ELA-Zerbitzuak held today at the Kursaal de Donostia under the slogan ‘Arrakalatik Berdintasunera’ (‘From gap to equality’), has reaffirmed its commitment once again to redouble the fight against job insecurity and the gender wage gap, with the backing of 178 delegates who took part in the congress.
Lines of work and secretary renewed
The delegates have backed and approved the Federation’s lines of work and with a percentage of votes in favour of 95%, Maricruz Elkoro has been re-elected as the General Secretary, along with the Permanent Commission, which will have another seven people with the following responsibilities:
- Maricruz Elkoro Zengotitabengoa: General Secretary
- Egoitz Iturbe Sáez de Nanclares: Donostia, Deba eta Urola-Kosta
- Uribarri Irigoras Alberdi: Bilbo eta Ibaizabal-Nerbioi
- Hodei Blasko Otsoa: Gasteiz
- Idoia Elustondo Plazaola: Oarso-Bidasoa eta Oria-Goierri
- Janire Ornes Uriondo: Gernika-Durango eta Ezkerraldea-Kadagua
- Pablo Sánchez González: Nafarroa
- Itziar Larrazabal Gardeazabal: Genero Ekitatea, Eskumaldea
Maricruz Elkoro, in her speech, emphasised that over four years ELA-Zerbitzuak has grown by 2,726 people, of which 78% are women. “In almost all the sectors of the Federation, ELA continues to hold the majority and in many of them, it holds the absolute majority. In the inter-congress period we have carried out almost 100 strikes, in spite of the fact that we have lived through two years of pandemic, where there was very reduced trade union action.” Most of the female-dominated, insecure sectors are encompassed in this Federation, which has 29,198 members, of which 62% are women.
Furthermore, the four programmed resolutions presented were approved:
- Against the nationalisation of collective bargaining, demanding trade unionism.
- Overcoming the sectorial negotiation blockage and activating the fight against job insecurity.
- The organisation of teams, a key element in our organizational model.
- From the gap to equality.
Trade unionism in female-dominated sectors
The General Secretary of ELA Mitxel Lakuntza, who took part in the Congress, underscored the importance of the fight against job insecurity, more so in the female-dominated sectors that the Services Federation encompasses. “With an endless number of strikes and mobilisations we have also managed to take trade unionism to these areas, showing that it is as necessary as it is useful.” “These strikes are more than trade union strikes, because they transform society itself: because equality is also a social and political problem. For this reason ELA has put the wage gap at the centre of its agenda.”
Thanks to this, Lakuntza has assured that they have improved the working and living conditions of many workers, particularly those of women and he defended the need to continue promoting this fight, “affiliating and involving people, because without implication improvements cannot be achieved.”
Even more so at this “difficult moment” we are living through: “In the middle of an energy crisis and with a constant increase in prices, companies are obtaining historic profits. But at the same time, the employers are complaining that they cannot find workers.” An example of this is the controversy provoked in the hotel and catering trade. “There is no lack of staff, as the employers complain, but rather an absence of good living and working conditions,” Lakuntza recalled.
Gizalan and Industria and Construcción Federation
This first day will be followed by the Gizalan and Industria eta Eraikuntza Federations. Specifically, tomorrow the 15th of June, Gizalan will hold its congress in the Casa de Cultura in Burlada, with Igor Eizagirre at the head for his re-election as General Secretary of the Federation. And on Thursday, the 16th of June, at the Palacio Europa in Gasteiz the Congress of Industria eta Eraikuntza will be held, with Unai Martínez as the candidate once again.