According to the ELA union, CAF management and the workers' committees of Beasain, Irun, and Madrid have reached a pre-agreement for the renewal of the collective agreement. The pre-agreement would be valid for three years, from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028, and would apply to the aforementioned centers.
The union states that the pre-agreement includes "significant advances" in various areas, such as employment, salary increases, equalization of working hours, seniority, the fourth shift, licenses, travel, and per diems.
“"We believe it includes important demands that ELA requires in the negotiation, among others, in the areas of employment, the equalization of working hours for graduates, seniority, working hour reduction for the fourth shift, licenses, travel, per diems, and salaries."
Among the main contents, salary increases stand out: a 3.15% increase in 2026, the CPI of the Basque Country + 0.50% in 2027, and the CPI of the Basque Country + 0.75% in 2028, guaranteeing increases above the CPI throughout the agreement's validity. Regarding employment, 190 permanent hires are foreseen in the blue-collar collective (150 in Beasain and 40 in Irun), and 11 permanent hires in the white-collar collective.
Regarding the equalization of working hours, those for graduates in Beasain and Irun will be aligned with those of other workers, totaling 1,592.5 hours annually. Additionally, an 8-hour annual reduction will be implemented for the fourth shift, making the working day 1,584.5 hours for 2027 and 2028. Improvements in seniority and licenses are also included, such as increasing leave from 2 to 3 working days for the death of parents or siblings, and enhancements in medical consultations.
Advances have also been made in international travel, limiting non-voluntary trips to two consecutive months, and the equalization of per diems for all CAF employees has been agreed upon. Finally, the application of the relief contract would be maintained for individuals born in 1965, 1966, and 1967.
The pre-agreement must be ratified in the ELA affiliates' assembly on May 13, and subsequently, all workers in Beasain, Irun, and Madrid will vote on May 14.
