Crisis, cambio en la UE y estrategias sindicales: el impacto de la condicionalidad en el repertorio estratégico de los sindicatos españoles durante la crisis de la eurozona

Abstract

Crisis, cambio en la UE y estrategias sindicales: el impacto de la condicionalidad en el repertorio estratégico de los sindicatos españoles durante la crisis de la eurozona ResumenDurante la crisis de la eurozona, los gobiernos del PSOE y del PP implementaron una serie de reformas del Estado de Bienestar y del mercado laboral a cambio de ayuda financiera por parte de la Unión Europea, lo que se conoce como condicionalidad. Los sindicatos, CC. OO. y UGT, respondieron ante tales reformas como representantes de los colectivos más afectados por las mismas. Existen dos argumentos distintos que explican las estrategias de los sindicatos durante la crisis. Por una parte, se argumenta que los sindicatos utilizaron la acción política tradicional para influir en los procesos de toma de decisiones. Por otra parte, los sindicatos han puesto en marcha nuevas acciones bien de carácter transnacional o relacionadas con actividades propias de los movimientos sociales. El artículo explica por qué la crisis dio lugar a esta nueva combinación de repertorios sindicales que apelan a sectores y niveles de acción distintos. El argumento principal es que la condicionalidad de la UE dio lugar a la aparición de un nuevo régimen de decisión política que denominamos aquí «intergubernamentalismo neoliberal» por los cambios institucionales e ideológicos que trajo consigo. A su vez este nuevo régimen impactó en la estructura de oportunidad política, provocando una reorientación estratégica de los sindicatos. AbstractDuring the eurozone crisis, the PSOE's and PP's governments implemented a series of reforms of the Welfare State and the labour market in exchange for financial help from the EU; what is known as conditionality. The trade unions, CC. OO. and UGT, responded to these reforms as the representatives of the sectors most affected by them. There are two narratives to explain trade unions' strategies during the crisis. On the one hand, it is argued that trade unions used traditional political action to influence political decision making processes. On the other hand, trade unions have developed new actions either of a transnational character or related to typical social movements' activities. The article explains why the crisis led to this new combination of trade union repertories calling on different sectors and levels of action. The main argument is that the EU conditionality led to the emergence of a new political regime that we have dubbed "neoliberal intergovernmentalism" due to the institutional and ideological changes that it brought about. In turn, this new regime impacted upon the political opportunity structure, triggering a strategic reorientation of trade unions.

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“…Moreover, the letter was not made public by the Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero. By contrast, the Country Specific Recommendation, issued in summer 2013 by the EC and the Council within the strengthened framework for fiscal and economic coordination and surveillance of the European Semester, was very specific on measures to be adopted in the field of pensions: “Finalise by end‐2013 the regulation of the sustainability factor […] increasing the effective retirement age by aligning the retirement age or pension benefits to changes in life expectancy.” The center‐right PP government then took up the opportunity to act unilaterally and reform pensions following European recommendations (Gago, ). With the 2013 reform, early retirement conditions were further tightened, and especially, a much faster phase in (i.e., between 2014 and 2019) of the “sustainability factor” was legislated.…”

“…Thus, the Spanish reforms have to be understood in light of institutionalized pressures within the excessive deficit procedure, against the backdrop of mounting financial market speculation. It is thus possible to argue that Spanish governments' room of maneuver in the field of pensions was somewhat broader than that of the Italian counterparts; therefore, the more (PSOE) or less (PP) inclusive approach in pension policymaking can be at least partly attributed to the diverse strategic and political choices of the center‐right and center‐left cabinets (Gago, ).…”

Inequalities and the Impact of Job Insecurity on Health Indicators in the Spanish Workforce

“…More than a decade has passed since the financial crisis and the stagnation of the global economy in 2008 (the great recession) began and austerity policies (the great aggression) imposed by the Troika (formed by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund) based on a political exchange of "neoliberal intergovernmentalism" that forced the member states of the European Union with economic difficulties, especially the countries of the South (Spain, Greece and Portugal), to deregulate the labor market and labor relations [1,2] with the "conditionality" of obtaining financial aid and bank bailouts [3]. These policies have led to a radical transformation of industrial relations models and the breakdown of the fragile balances achieved during decades of social dialogue by deregulating the three historical collective mechanisms that have acted in the defense and protection of workers: protection of legality, trade union intervention and business coverage [4]. This aggression has meant a great regression that, on the one hand, has led the most disadvantaged social classes to even worse living conditions, and, on the other hand, has slipped the middle classes into economic fragility, extending economic and social vulnerability to large social strata [5].…”

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“…Specifically, official records [5] showed a sustained reduction in accidents, going from an incidence rate of 7437.4 accidents per 100,000 workers in 2000 to an indecency rate of 2948.8 in 2012, which meant a reduction in the rate of variation of occupational accidents of 60.35% [6]. This positive evolution was interrupted by the beginning of the financial crisis and the stagnation of the global economy in 2008 (the great recession) as austerity policies were adopted (the great aggression) imposed by the Troika (formed by the European Commission), the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund) based on a political exchange of "neoliberal intergovernmentalism" that forced the member states of the European Union in economic difficulties, especially the countries of the south, to deregulate the labour market and labour relations [7][8][9] with the "conditionality" of obtaining financial aid and bank bailouts [10]. This aggression has led to a great regression in employment and work conditions, increasing the precariousness of work [11].…”