Unai Sordo: "Junts is as right-wing as the PP, if not more so."

This Thursday, the CC.OO. Congress begins, which will elect Unai Sordo (Baracaldo, 1972) for a third and final term as general secretary. The Congress is presented as a tranquil oasis in a Spain in turmoil due to the PSOE's political crisis, with Pedro Sánchez's expected presence on opening day. In this interview, Sordo opposes early elections at a time when the economy is doing well, rules himself out as a potential Sumar candidate, and affirms that Junts is as right-wing as the PP, "if not more so," and that both parties are living with the contradiction of announcing a vote against a reduction in working hours that their electorate wants.

What goals have you set for your final term as the union's general secretary?

The main objective is to strengthen CC.OO. so that it has an ever-increasing presence in more companies, recruiting more workers to become more influential in the economic and sociopolitical context, whatever it may be. I believe these have been years in which the union has done a lot, but we are living in very turbulent times, where I believe we must be prepared for any eventuality and be a place of strength and security for the working class.

In the current political situation, what should the PSOE and the Government do?

I don't have the answer because I have no idea what the exact map of the situation is. The first thing would be to determine exactly the scope of what happened, who was corrupt, who committed the corruption, where that money was used. And once they have a clear map, then act. Although we are truly surprised to see scenes almost reminiscent of the National Shotgun.

PSOE crisis “We are truly surprised to see scenes that are almost reminiscent of the National Shotgun”

Can the government continue without presenting a vote of confidence or calling early elections?

It may be possible to continue. The problem is that depending on the extent to which this hotbed of alleged corruption is what we know it to be or has more ramifications, the government will have to act in one way or another. In any case, I believe that early elections are not in Spain's best interest at a time when political tension and polarization are already very significant, but when the country's socioeconomic situation is actually heading in a very different direction from the political tension. From the perspective of the labor market, the last thing we need is a process of electoral instability.

Reduction of working hours She doesn't currently have a majority in Congress, but the Junts and PP electorate support her.

If there are early elections, can you be a candidate for Sumar?

No, if there are early elections, each party will have to decide on its candidates and political proposals. I'm running for a third and final term in the CC.OO. Union mandates are four years, and it's clear that I want to be the union's general secretary. Otherwise, I wouldn't run the day after tomorrow.

Could this alternative of being a Sumar candidate be considered in the future?

I've never thought about life four years from now. And, of course, talking about four years in political terms seems like science fiction, because things change so much.

If the People's Party comes to power, will there be a setback on labor issues?

If the PP comes to power, it looks like it will do so, no matter what, accompanied by the far right. And that scenario is the greatest economic risk Spain could face. The PP has governed before, has pursued regressive policies, sometimes more and sometimes less so, but accompanied by Vox and the far right, it poses a danger to employment, labor rights, and the welfare state.

If the parliamentary process for reducing working hours was complicated, is it lost with the current crisis?

I think there's a game in town. Reducing the working day is a measure that doesn't currently have a majority in Congress, but it does have a broad social majority that supports it, including the voters of the Popular Party and Junts. Therefore, the possibility must be explored, because I don't think these parties would be happy to vote against it either. Because it also has a political cost, and this contradiction must be explored through protest and mobilization.

Juncture "Housing, along with the risk of the far right in government, is the biggest challenge to full employment in Spain."

If it doesn't happen, would it be a failure for the unions and the government?

I don't see things in those terms. I'm clear that there's a majority for the investiture, but it's not a progressive majority in those terms, and Junts, in socioeconomic terms, is a party as right-wing, if not more so, than the PP. And both share the same contradiction: their electorate overwhelmingly supports this measure, but the party leaderships don't.

You said that Junts is more useless than the last slice of Bimbo bread.

When someone attacks our democratic legitimacy, sometimes one feels like getting metaphorical and taking a swing at them. Having said that, also, solidarity with the Bimbo bread workers.

Is housing Spain's biggest problem?

In addition to the social problem, we must also highlight the economic problem posed by the housing situation. I believe that Spain will reach full employment in the coming years, but it's heading towards full employment with a fairly high unemployment rate, where employers will say they can't find people to work. And I say: Who in Spain is going to move from one side of our country to the other if you're going to have to spend half your salary on rent? The housing problem, along with the risk of the far right in government, is the biggest problem for full employment in Spain.