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Spanish federations merge to build strength

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18 May, 2016Two of IndustriALL Global Union’s Spanish affiliates MCA and FITAG have merged into a single federation, in a bid to more effectively represent workers, reinforce structure and make better use of resources.

The Federación de Industria, Construcción y Agro (FICA), representing workers in industry, construction and agriculture, was founded on 13 May 2016. It follows a decision made by Spain’s national centre, UGT, at its Congress earlier this year to reduce its affiliated federations to three, namely in the sectors of: industry, public and private services.

Commenting on the creation of the new federation, Pedro Luis Hojas Cancho, elected as FICA’s general secretary, said:

“We do this to improve our internal structure and provide a better service to our members through a better use of resources. Our goal is to reach all workers, employed at large production facilities and especially small ones, where workers are the most disadvantaged. That is our challenge and that is why UGT took the decision to reorganize."

Pedro Hojas Cancho started his career as a ceramic worker at Roca. His original union was FEMCA-UGT, which was one of constituents of MCA after the merger with metalworkers’ union.

FITAG’s general secretary Antonio Deusa Pedrazo was elected as vice-general secretary and external area coordinator, which includes international affairs, while MCA’s general secretary Carlos Romero González was elected as president.

At the international level, the new organization will keep its affiliation with IndustriALL, BWI and IUF as well as relevant European organizations.

IndustriALL’s assistant general secretary, Kemal Özkan, attended the FICA founding congress and welcomed the creation of the new federation,

“We all are witnessing a historic moment right now. We welcome and salute the new organization. I would also like to congratulate all the leaders who initiate and finalize this process with a great success. We are looking forward to working with the new federation very closely in the period to come.”