XEAL optimistic about AGA mediation

Xeal agrees to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the participation of the AGA (Galician Labor Relations Council) with the conviction that it will be able to reach a balanced and satisfactory agreement for all parties involved, as well as to reverse the situation of immobility shown by the social parties throughout the negotiation process.

In September 2020, the company initiated the necessary steps to negotiate  a new collective bargaining agreement, in line with current labor trends.  However, despite the numerous efforts and proposals made by the company, negotiations have extended for more than 14 months without being able to reach an agreement and exceeding the 12-month period established by the current legal framework. Throughout this process, the company has presented numerous proposals for the new agreement, which represent a substantial improvement to the current working conditions and include the structural changes necessary to improve its competitiveness, essential in the current times, and which benefits all employees.

The company considers that AGA's mediation in this process can be positive in helping to unblock the situation of immobility generated by the workers' representatives and to bring positions closer together in order to finally reach an agreement that benefits the entire organization.

This is a key point for the development of the investment program of 28 million euros between 2020 and 2024, 14 million in each of the company's divisions: ferroalloys and energy, focused on its four strategic axes: Maximum commitment to safety in the performance of the activity of its workers, exquisite compliance with environmental regulations, preventive culture in the maintenance of long-term assets and being increasingly efficient and effective in order to compete.

By October 2021, the company had already invested €5M in its Ferroalloys division and €3.5M in its Energy division.