The workers' assembly at Tubos Reunidos in Amurrio is set to meet on May 7 to vote on the future of the strike, but unions have made it clear that this decision will not impact the ongoing work stoppage. According to union organizations, the assembly is a strategy by the company's management aimed at creating disagreement among employees and criminalizing the strike.
Initially, a media outlet from the Vocento group reported that a group of workers had collected signatures from 25% of the workforce to call the assembly. However, the unions that called the strike denied any knowledge of this news, and the ESK union labeled it a "hoax," as the document was being circulated anonymously through social media.
“"We, the unions, called it, and we will be the ones to call it off, not others."
Unions have denounced that they first learned about the assembly's call through the media and only later received official communication. Furthermore, they have pointed out that the assembly's organizers are "individuals close to management," and not "ordinary workers," such as the sales manager for China and South Korea or the national market manager.
Worker organizations have emphasized that they have no way to verify whether 25% of the workforce genuinely supported the initiative, as the signatures will be handed over to the company, the Labor Inspectorate, and Social Security, citing confidentiality. Therefore, unions will hold a meeting on Monday, but they anticipate that the assembly will have no effect on the strike, as the conveners lack the legitimacy to call it off.
According to the unions, "going to work and striking are individual rights," and thus, they will continue with the strike. For the day of the May 7 assembly, they plan to organize a strong picket to respond to this "attempt to foster disagreement."
