The Government of the Canary Islands and the trade union organizations UGT, CC.OO., and CSIF have reached a pre-agreement on union working hours credit. This proposal aims to update and standardize the criteria for exercising the representation of public employees of the Autonomous Community and establish a new regulatory framework for other union rights.
The proposal will be submitted to the General Negotiation Board for Public Employees for its study and approval, before being sent to the Governing Council. If agreed, it will apply to the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands for all personnel, covering General Administration, Justice, Education, and Health.
The draft was endorsed last Friday, October 2nd, at the Presidency of the Government in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The event was attended by the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, the Minister of the Presidency, Nieves Lady Barreto, the Minister of Education, Poli Suárez, and the Director of the Canary Islands Health Service, Adasat Goya.
Representing the trade union organizations were César Martínez Araque (CSIF Canarias), Pedro Costeras Nebreda (CCOO Canarias), and Francisco Bautista Yanes (UGT public services).
“"We have been able to fulfill the commitment we made to initiate this process that must lead us, through the corresponding negotiation process, to have strong union representation. This is key for a more effective and efficient Administration, and it represents an investment in democratic quality."
The Minister of the Presidency, Nieves Lady Barreto, emphasized that the representation of public employees is fundamental for understanding the reality of the Administration firsthand, anticipating problems, and improving working conditions and the quality of services provided to citizens.
The three trade union organizations are calling for a common framework for union working hours credit, adapted to the current reality and regulations, seeking greater clarity and security in its allocation and use.
The initiative proposes that the criteria for assigning and using working hours credit be updated and applied homogeneously across the entire Public Administration of the Canary Islands, recognizing the importance of this time for the participation of workers' representatives.
The unions argue that having sufficient time is essential for representatives to address staff demands, participate in negotiations, and communicate public personnel issues.
The initiative seeks to balance union activity with the guarantee of public services, ensuring that workers' representation does not diminish the attention received by citizens.
UGT, CCOO, and CSIF emphasize that union working hours credit is a tool that contributes to the functioning of the Administration itself, allowing for the detection and resolution of conflicts, communication of staff needs, and the contribution of direct knowledge.
They believe that stable dialogue improves decision-making, fosters the involvement of public employees, and enhances transparency in human resource management.
For the organizations, updating union working hours credit would represent a step forward in labor relations within the Canary Islands Public Administration, strengthening public employee participation and fostering more structured dialogue between the Administration and its representatives.
