Spanish CECOBI Considers The New Bureau of Textile Trade Act and Collective Agreement

The Spanish province of Biscay’s Retail Business Confederation (CECOBI), has announced that it considers the new Bureau of Textile Trade act as well as the existing Collective agreement signed between the ELA trade union and the business association of Biscay (Bizkaidendak), for laborers working in textile trade in the region, as null and void.

According to a statement issued by CECOBI, which expresses the same sentiments of the General Workers Union (UGT), Trade Union Confederation of Workers' Commissions (CCOO) and the Labor Authority of Biscay (LAB), the CECOBI believes there is already a legally negotiating committee constituted under the legal framework of the province for the same sector.

The CECOBI is of the opinion that the ELA wants to disrupt the labor relations in the textile sector of the region, stating that ELA has entered into the agreement with the business association which integrates into its ranks several federations of hospitality, services and training centers, which perform activities totally unrelated to the textile sector of Biscay.

According to the statement, the Biscay retail association feels Bizkaidendak lacks sufficient legitimacy to negotiate the textile workers' agreement. The CECOBI states the business association does not comply with the minimum representation required by the deal and its status as an employer organization does not meet with the agreement's requirements.

The ELA and Bizkaidendak recently entered into a deal for workers in the textile sector of Biscay, under which the two organizations would be modifying the previous contents of the existing Collective agreement.

Under the agreement, the wages of workers in the textile sector would be increased by 1.5 percent in 2013, and the textile firms would have to comply with these wages. However, the firms can refrain from increasing the wages if both the workers and the employers agree to it.