Por María Izquierdo 
Trade unions emphasize that the departure of the «far right» from the Government has allowed the recovery of these dialogue channels
The Economic and Social Council (CES) has expressed its confidence that a tripartite agreement will be signed to consolidate the Labor Relations Service of Castilla y León (Serla) and has welcomed the return to normalcy and the boost of Social Dialogue after the period experienced with Vox in the regional Government.
This was highlighted by both the president of the CES, Enrique Cabero, and the general secretaries of UGT and CCOO in Castilla y León, Óscar Lobo and Ana Fernández de los Muros, and the president of CEOE in the Community, Santiago Aparicio, within the framework of the presentation of the Annual Report on the economic and social situation of Castilla y León for 2024.
This document, as explained by Cabero, values the «normal» recovery of Social Dialogue in the Community and its functioning, but it also recommends that a «growing line» of it be maintained, especially in a context «where it is very valuable» as in times of socio-economic uncertainty.
«There have always been good moments to resort to Social Dialogue in prevention, diagnosis, and adoption of policies and measures,» said the president of the CES, who believes that there is a «complicated» moment in the international geopolitical context where there are many variables «whose actions are uncertain», how they will impact the economy and society of the Community, so it is a good time to continue relaunching Social Dialogue, conducting diagnoses, and agreeing on proposals.
In addition to this, Enrique Cabero emphasized another instrument born from Social Dialogue, such as the autonomous solution to labor disputes (Serla), and it is also valued that this system has been «normalized», which is so valuable for companies and workers to ensure precisely the best solution, the negotiated, agreed solution to collective labor disputes and also individual conflicts.
He also pointed out that they are «very interested» in the possibility of signing a tripartite agreement in this legislature to «consolidate» this recovery and ensure an «adequate financing» of a public system for resolving conflicts that ultimately affects everyone because the prompt and good resolution of a labor dispute has a significant economic and citizen impact.
In a similar vein, Santiago Aparicio expressed that they are «delighted» that Social Dialogue has been «restored», «something fundamental» for the benefit of companies, workers, and society in general in Castilla y León. He also thanked that Serla «returns to its previous situation» and that this institution can continue to exist «because it is truly necessary when there are collective conflicts».
THANKS TO THE DEPARTURE OF VOX
For his part, Óscar Lobo stated that the «tone» of the Annual Report «obligatorily changes» in the political sphere because «the far right is no longer in power», which he considers a «significant fact», as now they no longer have to express concern about Social Dialogue, «how attempts to dismantle and attack labor institutions» and also the fact that «the far right and Vox» no longer govern «the entire Community is noticeable».
The UGT’s top official, who expressed himself «respecting the different ideological positions», asserted that now, «without a doubt», Castilla y León is «a better Community» where the framework of coexistence is respected and where everyone can work constructively to build a better Community.
In the same context, Ana Fernández de los Muros joined the president of the CES and hopes that «in the immediate future» there will be a tripartite agreement on the financing of Serla. «It is essential. If there is no funding regardless of what happens in the political sphere and in the future government, we may once again see an organism that is essential for workers, but also for employers and labor relations as a whole, in danger,» she added.
Similarly, she highlighted the role of Social Dialogue after years in which it has been attempted to be «undermined» by the coalition government, «and specifically by the far-right party», everything related to employment, which she claims was where they «attacked the most», and now it has been «recovered».
However, she pointed out that perhaps «not enough has been done» and advocated for a reflection on this, while also highlighting that the CES has been a framework where they have been able to «take shelter» in everything related to social concertation.
Now, she added, the CES recommends that there be «protection» and that Social Dialogue be reinforced because it is «essential, more than necessary», something she emphasized «in case history repeats itself».
Fernández de los Muros believes that all citizens must begin to value Social Dialogue because there is «a deficit of knowledge» when it is a framework in which measures are agreed upon that «truly improve the lives of the people living in Castilla y León», both workers and citizens in general, including women, young people, and the most vulnerable individuals.
She also highlighted the «added value» for the Council that the figure of the president of the CES, Enrique Cabero, represents, who has defended «at all times» the value of institutional participation and social concertation «and has been a value for everyone in very dark times in this autonomous community» and expressed his confidence that we are facing a much simpler period for everyone. «But we’ll see, because history may repeat itself,» she warned.