Statement from UGT and CCOO regarding the tragedy caused by DANA – FeSMC – UGT

UGT and CCOO launch a joint report on the situation with DANA.

UGT and CCOO wish to once again express our great dismay at the devastating tragedy caused by the heavy rains and floods that have devastated various areas of the country, with great impact bad in Valencia, but also in the nearby autonomous communities. We reiterate our pain for the loss of life, which is reaching unbearable levels, and our deepest solidarity and concern for the damage we have caused to homes, infrastructure and equipment. This disaster has hit hard in areas where the majority of the working population live and work, which are experiencing hard times.

In these desolate times, CCOO and UGT urge all public institutions to deploy all necessary resources for rescue and emergency operations. It is urgent to restore access to food, water, energy and basic services, and to respond to the socio-economic impact suffered by all affected areas. The situation is critical, with many people still missing, and finding groups still trapped in cars, basements and even homes must be an immediate priority. The threat of a serious public health crisis threatens to add more suffering to the already difficult toll of life.

Without prejudice to the responsibilities that correspond to each level of the administration, at this time the priority is to combine all efforts to deal with the emergency rescue of the victims, the recovery of the bodies of the deceased , restoration of materials to the affected person. population and the guarantee of access to homes in safe conditions or, providing alternative accommodation while access to their homes is restored for all those who cannot do so at the time this.

UGT and CCOO will be available to the authorities responsible for coordinating aid and support activities for the earliest possible restoration of basic living conditions in the affected areas.

Public coverage with all available means is essential and that all necessary means are implemented, for which the publication of a badly affected area, which the Spanish Government has declared under Law 17/ 2015 of the National System, useful. This extraordinary legislation should also make it possible to immediately implement financial assistance for personal injuries, ordinary residence and basic needs, tax measures, labor and Social Security. All this, with the speed and flexibility of administration that is necessary at this time.

It is also necessary to predict the impact of this situation in terms of a reduction in the disposable income of many people, so it is necessary to support public welfare to reduce this impact as much as possible. which can, in addition to establishing moratoriums and renegotiation of payment. of the mortgage debt that many people and families have to face, with the problems that come from a situation as extraordinary as this.

The impact on the employment and life situation of the working population is visible, the social shield that we have already implemented with excellent results in the pandemic and now necessary to reactivate part of the land, change according to this situation.

It is also necessary to address the loss of income of many affected people; We recommend the extension of public benefits to reduce the economic impact of this situation, along with moratoriums and readjustments in the payment of mortgage debt that many families are facing.

The effects on the work and living conditions of the working population are obvious. We want the social wing to be reactivated, which has been effective during the pandemic, and which is now necessary. In this sense, we are asking for the urgent approval of a Royal Decree Law that will implement, among others, the following extraordinary measures:

1. Application of ERTES due to force majeure, without spending unemployment benefits, to protect employment and allow companies to gradually recover, using the figures agreed in the labor reform and with a broad and definite view that covers the indirect effect.

2. Extraordinary unemployment protection for salaried and self-employed workers who cannot resume their work as a result of the disaster.

3. Avoid terminating temporary contracts and protect those who have permanent contracts without interruption.

4. Allow teleworking where possible and avoid risks from unsafe travel to work while infrastructure is being restored.

5. Create a program similar to MECUIDA, which allows working hours to be changed or reduced to meet family and care needs in these situations.

In addition, we are calling for the immediate reinforcement of health, social, employment and Social Security services, so that they can adequately cope with the expected increase in demands and actions in each of them.

Likewise, we will provide all the necessary support to our organizations in all affected areas, especially in the case of the Valencian Country, to provide coverage for the care tool for the working population which will be necessary. Both from the point of view of what has already happened in the last few days in terms of working conditions, displacement and work risks that have occurred, and in terms of the consequences that may arise from this situation in the coming weeks or months.

UGT and CCOO are also going to demand responsibilities for the decisions that were taken, and for those that were not taken in time, and the impact they have had on the lives of an indeterminate number of employees still. The disasters associated with the climate crisis require structural public policies, not cuts in public resources or reactive denial. Scientific analysis and prediction cannot be suspended because of ideological fanaticism. Urban planning policies and civil protection protocols need to be reviewed, and of course, keeping up with the warnings issued by the agencies in charge of weather forecasting. Carelessness and negligence are always paid for by the working and popular classes.