CCOO and UGT marched on the streets of the Canary Islands on May 1st under the banner "Raise wages, lower prices, distribute benefits" to demand a salary increase, while reminding employers they are not "afraid" of conflict without this increase.

The islands hosted five different events in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Palma, Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura), and Teguise (Lanzarote), where a reading of the Labor Day Manifesto took place.

Before the start of the demonstration in the capital, the UGT Canarias Secretary of Organization, Héctor Fajardo, stressed the importance of this May 1st.

He reminded the public that the society is on the verge of regional elections and that there is currently a "real possibility of regression of labor rights."

Therefore, he indicated that presenting a united front of the labor movement is crucial to avoid losing rights and regain others "that have not yet been recovered," such as severance pay.

Furthermore, Fajardo sent a message to employers, stating that trade unions are willing to engage in new conflicts, and that "if there is no salary increase in the short term, there will be conflicts."

"We are not afraid of conflict," he added. "We are ready to visualize it and radicalize not only the discourse but also the positions in the negotiation tables and on the street."

Finally, he understood that workers are being "robbed" of the right to a fair distribution of wealth through salary increases in collective bargaining agreements and wage tables, and through the increase in the minimum wage (SMI).

CCOO and UGT have called for demonstrations in over 70 cities across Spain on May 1st in a context of tension with employers due to the stagnation of negotiations for the V Agreement for Employment and Collective Bargaining.

The unions have pointed out that May 1st will be a "day of reckoning," reflecting the progress made in labor and pension matters in this legislature, protecting 18 million incomes, including pensioners, SMI beneficiaries, and beneficiaries of salary increases through collective bargaining, among others.

Similarly, the arrival of this day also announces the end of the deadline given to the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) to reach an agreement on the V AENC.

Finally, CCOO and UGT have warned of an increase in mobilizations in the second half of the year if there is no progress in the AENC.