6일 세계노총이 <지난2월15일 파업을 시작한 프랑스 바스크지역 TUBAXEX*노조노동자대의원회의가 바스크지방정부의 제안을 거절하기로 결정했다>고 보도했다. 
*철강재등을 생산하는 제철기업 

보도는 <노조는 노동조건개선을 요구하며 무기한 파업에 임했다. 파업에는 기업노동자뿐 아니라 지역사회의 청년, 연금수령자, 사회단체들이 함께 했다>라며 <노동자와 지역시민들이 연대하고 국경을 넘는 지지를 받은 투쟁이었다.>고 분석했다. 

노조는 파업을 종료하며 성명을 통해 <7개월의 투쟁이 가치가 있었다고 자랑스럽게 말할수 있다>라며 <파업하는 동안 공장에는 아무도 없었다. 초국적기업 TUBAXEX는 어쩔수 없이 해고를 포기해야했다.>고 밝혔다. 

이어서 <사측은 자녀를 돌보기 위해 노동시간단축을 요구한 여성노동자와 같이 <성가시고 쓸모없는> 노동자를 해고해왔으나 이제 파업 끝에 모두 일터로 돌아간다>고 말했다. 

그러나 노조는 <그러나 투쟁은 새로운 국면에 들어서고 있다. 우리는 투쟁으로 쟁취한 지역의 노동자들의 고용조건과 노동조건을 방어해야한다.>면서 <우리는 노동자의 힘, 단결의 힘, 조직의 힘 그리고 투쟁의 힘이 무엇인지 알고있다>라며 단체협약을 거부했다. 

바스크지방정부의 제안은 <4년간 임금동결>, <부분적 고용보장>, <주40시간 노동>을 포함했다. 

다음은 전문이다.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Tubacex Works Council, the majority decided to accept the proposal presented by the Basque Government.
On 15 February, the Tubacex workers staff began an indefinite strike in defence of their jobs and working conditions. Since then, 236 days have passed. 236 days of struggle. A struggle in which the workers and the Workers Council have been united, a struggle in which we have been accompanied by the Aiaraldea region, a struggle that we have shared with youth, pensioner and feminist organisations. A struggle that has joined other struggles, creating alliances between the working class; PCB, Aernnova, Alestis, Bilboko Argiak, Petronor, H&M… A struggle in which we have received the solidarity and support of the working class of the Basque Country and which has crossed borders.
After 7 months of struggle today, we can proudly say that fighting is worth it. At Tubacex, there is no one left over. This has been our motto during these long months and this motto has become a reality. Tubacex, a transnational corporation no less, has had to give up. It has had to give up making redundancies. The management of Tubacex wanted to use a temporary situation to lay off workers, but not just any workers, but women workers who had reduced working hours to care for children, workers with jobs adapted for health reasons, workers who were “annoying and uncomfortable”. The struggle has made it possible for these workers to return to work.
Our union section in Tubacex rejects the proposal of the Basque Government in the company
However, despite this important victory, the LAB affiliation has decided not to sign the agreement. The reason is that they are asking us to pay a toll that we cannot afford.
For LAB, after an exemplary struggle, today we are entering a new phase; a phase in which LAB will continue to defend employment and working conditions in Tubacex and in Aiaraldea region and for that we know what the path is: the strength of the workforce, unity, organisation and struggle.
It has been 236 days. 236 days of mobilisations, of being in the gatehouse. 236 days of taking our demands to every place in Euskal Herria, in short, 236 days of struggle. We have said NO to a proposal that makes us feel proud, but also disappointed and let down.
After 7 months of struggle today, we can proudly say that fighting is worth it. In Tubacex nobody is redundant, this has been our motto during these long months and this motto has become a reality, since the latest proposal does not contemplate layoffs.
However, despite this important achievement, the LAB affiliation has decided not to sign the agreement. The reason is that they are asking us to pay a toll that for us is unacceptable and contravene common sense:
– The agreement proposes a wage freeze for almost 4 years with no guarantee that we will recover the lost purchasing power on 2025.
– An employment guarantee is proposed that talks about the number of staff, but not about the number of people.
– And the most unacceptable thing of all is that an increase in working hours of 40 hours for 3 years is being proposed. This, as well as worsening the working conditions of the staff, means that during these 3 years more than 50 jobs will no longer be created. These are jobs that belong to Aiaraldea, to the region, and this is one of the main reasons why LAB cannot endorse the agreement. It is totally shameful that the Department of Labour and Employment of the Basque Government is proposing to increase the working day in a company that has wanted to fire workers and that in the last year has applied two Adjustments plans, arguing a lack of work for all its workers.
To conclude, we want to reaffirm our initial idea: fighting is worth it. Organisation, working class alliance and struggle are the way to defend jobs, decent working conditions and, ultimately, a decent life.