May 1: Wages, Europe and Democracy

This May 1st, we at the UGT want to reaffirm a conviction that is more necessary than ever: defending decent work, democracy, and human rights is inseparable from strengthening a socially cohesive and economically resilient Europe.

We live in uncertain times. Across the Atlantic, the Trump administration is once again raising the specter of an aggressive, protectionist, and unilateral trade policy that threatens global stability. In the face of this, Europe must act firmly, and its first line of defense is its internal market, the largest in the world, with 450 million consumers. But this market will only be robust if its workers' dignity is respected: dignified wages are not just a matter of justice; they are a strategic necessity.

A day of mobilization against new global threats

Raising wages, strengthening collective bargaining, and consolidating a minimum interprofessional wage that reaches at least 60% of the average wage—as stated in the European Social Charter—are essential pillars for underpinning a stronger Europe. Without decent wages, there will be no solid domestic consumption or economic resilience.

Furthermore, this May 1st must be a great day of mobilization across Europe. Mobilizing means defending the values, freedoms, and rights embodied by the European Welfare State. Against those who seek to dismantle it, this May 1st we raise our voices to demand a Europe that protects and shelters.

But the answer cannot remain economic. Europe is more than a market: it is, above all, a civilizing project based on respect for human dignity, fundamental rights, and the social and democratic rule of law. Today, these values ​​are also threatened from within. The Trojan horse of the global far right has found local branches on the continent: political forces that, as we have seen in Spain, do not hesitate to side with those who attack our products, our companies, and our workers.

Therefore, strengthening the internal market also means reinforcing strategic autonomy. Spain must promote renewable energy, and we must also advance digitalization and the ethical development of AI, so that these tools serve people and labor rights, not their exploitation.

May 1st is not just a day of commemoration: it is a day of struggle and commitment. Today, fighting for better wages means fighting for a more democratic, more social, and more sovereign Europe. Today, defending working women and men means defending the very future of Europe.

At UGT, we will continue working to ensure that dignity, justice, and solidarity remain the soul of our Europe. Because only in this way, together, will we build a solid response to those who want to rob us of our rights and our well-being.

Happy May 1st! Long live the working class!