In June 2000, a new collective agreement was signed at RENFE, the main Spanish railway company. The agreement was signed by all the trade unions represented on the workers' committee, following a long period of dispute and disagreements between the unio ns.
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In June 2000, a new collective agreement was signed at RENFE, the main Spanish railway company. The agreement was signed by all the trade unions represented on the workers' committee, following a long period of dispute and disagreements between the unio ns.
On 20 June 2000, a new collective agreement (the company's 13th) was finally signed by the management of the RENFE national railway company and by all the trade unions represented on the workers' committee: in order of importance - CC.OO, UGT, CGT and the Spanish Trade Union of Train Drivers and Rail Assistants (Sindicato español de maquinistas y ayudantes ferroviarios, SEMAF).
The signing of the agreement was preceded by a long period of dispute that started in 1998. The company's refusal to consider a wage rise after several years of loss of workers' purchasing power led to a series of strikes. The dispute was exacerbated by the establishment of high minimum service levels during the strikes and disciplinary proceedings against some trade unionists. Other factors affecting the dispute were differing positions on the liberalisation of the rail system and the possible privatisation of the company (ES0001273F).
During the period leading up the conclusion of the new agreement, a serious rupture occurred in the previous unity of action between UGT and CC.OO. In January 2000, UGT alone signed an agreement with management covering only its members and any workers who adhered to it individually. Meanwhile, CC.OO, CGT and SEMAF continued to call mobilisations. This situation led to a heated debate within the CC.OO organisation at RENFE, with the "official" and "critical" factions of the union (ES0005286F) divided and having different strategies. Finally, CC.OO's federal transport council decided to dissolve the board of the CC.OO organisation at RENFE, within which the "critical" faction had a majority, and to appoint an interim leadership to seek a solution to the conflict in the company.
In late February, CC.OO, UGT and the company signed a "framework agreement for the normalisation of industrial relations at RENFE" in order to improve on the limited agreement signed earlier by UGT and to establish a new framework of dialogue and bargaining with management. This agreement was the prelude to the 13th agreement, which was eventually also signed by the rest of the trade unions. The improvements achieved in the deal meant that only a minority opposed the agreement, despite previous differing positions in CC.OO.
The three-year agreement (1999-2001) basically covers wage increases, shorter working hours and dispute resolution. It guarantees the recovery of the lost purchasing power through a system of bonuses and provides for an effective reduction of three days' working time per year, by increasing the days of "free" leave from three to six as of 2000. Many of the matters agreed are of great complexity and will be further developed by collective agreement committees. This is the case with bonuses, the reorganisation of the wage structure and the harmonisation of mobility processes. Dispute-resolution mechanisms will be developed in later negotiations.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2000), New collective agreement signed at RENFE, article.
