After weeks of protests and even strikes in the middle of the harvest season, the Valencian citrus sector reached an agreement that will bring an end to the social unrest.
On Thursday, unions and employers signed a collective labor agreement for the citrus harvest, which applies to nearly 50,000 workers. It includes wage increases and ends a conflict that had led harvest workers to call a strike amidst the harvest season.
The agreement was signed by the UGT and CCOO unions, the Citrus Management Committee (CGC), and the Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of the Valencian Community (FECOAV, after a provisional agreement was reached on December 16 that led to the cancellation of the first strike in the sector in 33 years. In the end, the strike only lasted two days, Delia García, head of the citrus sector at UGT, told Europa Press.
The new agreement includes wage increases of 9% in four years for day laborers and 8% increases for piecework with wage revision clauses of up to 2.5% so that the pickers don't lose any purchasing power the union representative stated.
The agreement also includes other improvements regarding paid leave and the obligation of a heat protocol in case of extreme heat, an aspect that was agreed upon with each company individually so far.
The UGT is satisfied with the agreement. "This proves that collective bargaining is very much alive and that it is possible to achieve social peace with agreements that are mutually beneficial," Garcia said, adding that she was happy that the conflict was over because a strike wasn't good for employers or employees, especially during a harvest in which there wasn't that much product.
Source: elEconomista.es
