This document, which formalizes the agreement reached last December, brings an end to six years of conflict and nearly sixty strike days that have shaped Álava's social agenda. The agreement, valid for four years (from 2025 to 2028), introduces significant improvements for the 1,200 workers in the sector, especially for gerocultoras (caregivers).
The new agreement includes a cumulative salary increase of 32.5% for gerocultoras, aiming for them to earn 1,500 gross euros per month by the end of its term. In addition to economic improvements, the text introduces profound changes in working conditions, such as a reduction of 100 hours in the annual working day spread over four years, the maintenance of four days of personal leave, and an increase in weekend breaks to a minimum of fifteen per year.
Furthermore, the obligation to conduct psychosocial examinations is established, and the ultra-activity of the agreement is guaranteed. This is a vital clause to ensure that workers do not lose their rights once the agreement expires in 2028. Prior to this Monday's signing, the working conditions in Álava's private residences were generally regulated by the national agreement.
The agreement did not receive unanimous support from the negotiating table. ELA views it as a step forward, though insufficient to transform a model where economic profitability still prevails over the quality of care.
However, the agreement has not received unanimous support from all unions. LAB and UGT have declined to sign the document. LAB justified its refusal by citing the absence of protective clauses that guarantee the maintenance of conditions previously agreed upon in company agreements, which they see as a risk of losing rights for certain workforces. For its part, UGT rejected the text, considering that it represents a loss of purchasing power for some workers and criticizing the lack of real improvements in overall working conditions.
