Thousands rally across Catalonia on Workers' Day, calling for 37.5-hour workweek

Labor unions and workers took to the streets across Catalonia on May 1, coinciding with International Workers' Day, to demand improved working conditions. Among the main requests, there were the implementation of the 37.5-hour workweek and defending European democracy against far-right and US President Donald Trump's policies.

Thousands took to the streets in Barcelona, in a demonstration organized by the major unions CCOO and UGT that began at midday in Plaça Urquinaona before walking to Foment del Treball, Catalonia's largest business group, located on Via Laietana.

Rallies across the territory called for a workweek reduction after the Spanish government was expected to approve the measure on Tuesday during its weekly cabinet meeting. However, due to the blackout registered on Monday, the approval was rescheduled for Wednesday and later postponed to the following week.

"We want to be able to live, share, and to have a work-life balance," UGT secretary general Camil Ros told media outlets before the rally. Meanwhile, CCOO secretary general Belén López said that it is required to look for a way to move forward and to have better social conditions and for care takers to be society's central point. 

Aside from the shorter workweek, protests across Catalonia saw strong stances in favor of democracy, against far-right policies, and especially against US President Donald Trump's political decisions.

"To challenge far-right, we urge European institutions to work on a real social shield and to be a fairer, more cohesive, and compromised authority with social rights," members of the UGT labor union, the second-largest entity, pointed out.

Other unions, such as USOC, called for better working conditions and higher salaries, as this would represent a better quality of life. "To work is not a privilege," members of USOC said. Maria Recuero, USOC's secretary general, said to media outlets before the demonstration that the reduction "should not cost any euro," and that "there should not be any secret conditions." For her, housing should not be "a luxury," rather a "social right."

"We do not want to and we do not agree to pay over 50% of our salary to be able to buy a house or face rent," Recuero said.

Meanwhile, the CGT union organized several rallies across Catalonia to "fight for a future" and to "face frozen salaries and social cuts," in order to "increase" companies' earnings.

Although major unions called for the 37.5-hour workweek, the Intersindical urged for a 32-hour workweek and a minimum wage of €1,425. "Workers in the Catalan-speaking territories are not part of an independent state to decide on fundamental issues such as labor, housing, transport, retirement plans, or the language we speak," a manifesto shared by the organization reads.