CSIF wins union elections in Embassies and Consulates

Eduardo González The Independent Trade Union and Civil Servants' Association (CSIF), the most representative union in public administrations, has won the elections for Foreign Service Staff (PLEX), held on March 23, 24, and 25 in the Spanish Embassy and Consular Offices in the 120 countries where Spain has an embassy or diplomatic mission. As the union reported last Friday, CSIF has increased its representation on the Single Committee for Foreign Service Staff (CUPLEX) from ten to eleven delegates (1,162 votes out of a total of 3,255, or 35.7 percent), surpassing the Workers' Commissions (CCOO), which has gone from twelve to nine delegates (994 votes). UGT, which decreased from fifteen to eight delegates (807 votes), and USO, which obtained three delegates (292 votes). “CSIF ran in these elections with a broad package of proposals to improve the working conditions of all staff employed in the Spanish Administration's foreign service,” the union stated. Among the proposals are strengthening prevention and security through the assessment of emerging risks in destination countries, reviewing and updating protocols for exceptional situations (including emergency and self-protection plans), and guaranteeing clear, official, and verified information for staff in crisis situations or security alerts. The 5,000 PLEX employees working for the Spanish administration assist more than three million Spaniards residing abroad, in addition to Spanish tourists and travelers, as well as a large number of foreign visa applicants. In this regard, CSIF has given special recognition to the work carried out in recent weeks by Foreign Service personnel serving in countries affected by the armed conflict in the Middle East. "Their work and professionalism have been fundamental in ensuring that the repatriation of 8,000 Spaniards to date has been carried out in an exemplary manner and without incident; and in ensuring that compatriots who remain in the conflict zones receive ongoing support and that any problems that may arise are resolved," the union stated. Demands Among CSIF's demands for Foreign Service Personnel are specific salary increases, taking into account each country's inflation rate and exchange rate differences; and the granting of Spanish nationality to Foreign Service Personnel and their spouses, a right granted by many countries to their foreign service employees and which represents recognition for an essential part of diplomatic missions. It also calls for the adoption of a national collective bargaining agreement that includes essential issues such as the development of job categories and functions "to end abuses and unpaid higher-level work"; unified salary scales "at the national level" to definitively eliminate salary differences within the same category ("equal pay for equal work"); a career path that allows for horizontal and vertical promotion to leverage staff knowledge and experience, as well as geographical mobility; and an end to the abuse of temporary contracts. "We demand that the Administration comply with its own regulations and not use local laws to abuse temporary employment." “There are cases of workers chaining together 14 years of continuous temporary contracts,” the union denounced. In addition, CSIF advocates for improved health and safety through strengthened prevention and protection policies for PLEX (Spanish Foreign Service Employees) in light of the increase in international conflicts and unstable geopolitical contexts (psychosocial support, assessment of emerging risks in destination countries, and updated protocols for exceptional situations, among other measures), and health insurance for PLEX without Spanish nationality, so that these workers receive the same level of healthcare as their colleagues. CCOO For its part, CCOO-Exterior highlighted its consolidation as the second largest union and “the level of participation recorded in this electoral process, with more than 3,200 people exercising their right to vote.” “In a field like this, marked by geographical dispersion and the particularities of centers abroad, this figure reflects a significant degree of involvement from the group and reinforces the clear message being conveyed to the Administration: there is a real demand for dialogue, progress in rights, and improved working conditions.” "of work," he warned.

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