https://www.iclcit.org/victory-at-gazc/
Congratulations comrades!!
International Confederation of Labour || A few weeks back we told you about the strike at GAZC. You can find more info about the conflict here Strikes across Spain! – ICL-CIT and here CNT inicia una huelga indefinida en GAZC Sevilla. Basically, GAZC is a “manufacturer of machined detail parts for the aerospace industry”, according to their own website, with headquarters in Madrid and factories in Seville. As you can see from the links, our comrades in Seville walked out over a number of grievances and demands, and to counter union repression by the company. They went on an indefinite strike on the 6th of October. Now, 72 days later, on the 16th of December, they have called their strike off, after forcing the company back to the negotiating table and reaching a successful agreement. More details about the whole process and the final agreement can be found here (in Spanish): FINALIZA LA HUELGA INDEFINIDA EN GAZC SEVILLA TRAS 72 DÍAS Well done, comrades!
As we have explained before, the workers received no wages over all this time and no back pay. Only thanks to the CNT general solidarity and strike fund (“caja de resistencia” in Spanish) were they able to keep up the struggle for 72 days. They have said so themselves: “if we didn´t have this fund and the union behind us, we wouldn’t have held on” for so long, stated one of our comrades to a local newspaper. In this way, it has already proved to be an invaluable tool for the workers affiliated to the union. Conversely, it allows CNT to be more ambitious and determined in its demand and struggles.
It is worth noting that the business union UGT once again played a shameful role in the conflict, siding with the company and spreading lies about the legality of the strike. It can be argued that this is no different from their usual behaviour, and that would be true. However, given the unusual length of this conflict, something they are not used to, they have gotten extra nervous. Maybe they are scared of the workers organising in a union that is truly theirs!
Some of our comrades like to say that an injury to one is an injury to all. In this case, we can also say that a victory for one is victory for all! Thank you, comrades!
GAZC Seville strike enters 50th day
The strike fund and the support of social and neighbourhood groups keep morale high
Freedom News, 25 November || Fifty days have passed since the workforce f Gazc Sevilla SL, an aeronautical company, decided to take a stand. They did so on 6 October, calling an indefinite strike under the banner of the CNT Sevilla union . Fifty days later, the standoff remains firm, with no agreement in sight, but with one certainty: “Our spirits haven’t waned. We are more united than ever and standing up to the company,” says Jesús, one of the striking workers.
The spark ignited after months of breaches of contract: ignored professional categories, illegal cuts in vacation pay, imposed work schedules, and a progressive erosion of rights.” We’ve always been on triple shifts, with very poorly paid nights because the collective agreement leaves us vulnerable. The afternoons are awful, and the company forces us to work overtime, even though they deny it,” Jesús complains. The creation of the CNT union branch in May was a response to a wave of layoffs and mounting frustration. Far from negotiating, the company rejected all demands. The assembly then decided to launch an indefinite strike with clear objectives: recognition of job categories, improvements for night shift workers, job security, and an end to the cuts.
“If we didn’t have this strike fund and the support of the union, we wouldn’t have lasted 50 days like we have,” admits Jesús. “The management at Gazc Sevilla hasn’t lifted a finger. They keep pretending everything’s fine, that they’re meeting production targets, but from the outside it’s clear they’re not meeting them. They’re resorting to strikebreaking, both internal and external, forcing overtime, and leaving machines running,” the worker explains. The management has resorted to illegal practices: “We’ve already caught them working weekends; we have videos and filed complaints with the Civil Guard. They’re facing penalties.”
The company, which receives substantial public subsidies, prefers to absorb losses, pay for private security—”22,000 or 23,000 euros a month“—and install cameras rather than address demands that the strikers describe as “modest.”
“It’s not about money; they’re not giving in because of pride. They refuse to back down in the face of a strike,” Jesús concludes. The strike has strengthened membership: from 20 to almost 40 workers in the union section. “People have seen it clearly: the union is a valid tool. Without the CNT, this wouldn’t be possible,” he affirms. The Strike Fund and the support of social groups like Barrios Hartos and Gente de Barrio keep morale high. “There are good days and bad days, but there are always comrades who lift you up when you’re feeling down. If one of us is feeling down, another goes and encourages him. That’s how we’re holding on,” Jesús confesses.
The conflict has also exposed the role of other unions. “UGT has always sided with the company. They’ve never achieved anything for the workers, only for those on the morning shift. Now they’ve issued statements against us, even questioning the legality of the strike,” Jesús complains. “Whenever we raised our voices, they ignored us. This time was no different .”The demands are clear and specific. “The ideal agreement hinges on two points: a €150 bonus to compensate for the overtime others work that we can’t, and more flexible vacation time to better balance work and family life. If they close for three weeks in the summer, they should give us one week off to choose from at another time,” Jesús explains. “If the company agrees to that, we can reach an agreement. But we’re not going to negotiate down the price.”
To understand the magnitude of the conflict, it’s helpful to know what these workers do: “We machine aircraft parts. We’re the first link, the most important, because if we don’t produce, the rest can’t work. And we’re the ones who suffer the most: three shifts, poorly paid nights, and constant pressure to work overtime.” The question hangs in the air. How much longer can this last? “It’s a matter of time. But the moment will come when they have to sit down, one way or another”, Jesús asserts. His prediction: “I don’t think they can hold out much longer. They’re behind on their payments and risking lawsuits. I think it will be sooner than many expect”. Meanwhile, the strike continues to set the pace at Gazc Sevilla. A struggle that, beyond the numbers, speaks of workers’ dignity in the face of corporate arrogance. Because, as they repeat on the picket line, “if we don’t fight, nobody will fight for us”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_Pk6VjZlho
Discover more from Class Autonomy
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
