Francisco, new president of the CES with the abstention of the unions
The president of the CES, José Carlos Francisco, with the Minister of Employment, Elena Máñez. /
The vice-presidencies, which will be appointed in the next plenary session, will fall to Carmen Marrero, from CC OO, and Vicente Marrero, from the CCE
The Tenerife economist and CEOE-Tenerife representative,
Joseph Charles Franciswas chosen yesterday as new
President of the Economic and Social Council (ESC) of the Canary Islands in a vote in which he had
ten votes in favor -the six from the two employer associations and two from the chambers of commerce- and
eight abstentions -the unions UGT and CC OO and the two representatives of consumers and users-.
Six months after the members of the previous Council ceased due to the expiration of the legal mandate, yesterday this consultative body was renewed and its head was appointed in an act presided over by the
Chief Executive, Ángel Víctor Torreswho wished the new CES “success and luck in their work for the coming years”.
In this way,
ends two years of interim in the Presidency of this body, since Blas Trujillo left office to head the Ministry of Health.
Negotiation
In the next plenary session, to be held in the second half of July, the two
Vice Presidencieswhich will fall on
Carmen Marrero, from the CC OO union, and Vicente Marrero, from the Canarian Confederation of Entrepreneurs (CCE). It was precisely this last appointment that kept the negotiation open until the end and caused the UGT to abstain.
The union understood that, since the Presidency was in the hands of the employers, they should cede the Vice Presidency, which in the end has not happened.
In addition, the unions reiterated that their abstention was also due to the fact that the first option to preside over the CES was
the professor at the University of La Laguna, Gloria Rojasboth due to the circumstance that for the first time a woman was in charge of this body, and because it was an independent person, who was not linked to any business entity, union or the Government itself.
Consumers want more weight
For their part, the representatives of the
consumers and users explained their abstention in the president's vote as a
"wake-up call" on the weight that these entities represent and with the aim that their positions be more taken into account within the Council because, as they pointed out, "it seems that only trade unions and businessmen are part of the CES".
After taking office, José Carlos Francisco thanked that there had been no votes against and assured that
“understands” abstentions because "they have a logic behind".
However, he considers that "from now on
Let's work together and I have the feeling that it is a
Well qualified advice», which will allow them to carry out «good reports and the opinions» improve the laws sent by the Government, in such a way that they are
“more useful, applicable and simpler” and that contribute to improving the legislation of the autonomous community.
To the same extent, he indicated that the Council will make "recommendations" that he hopes will be accepted by the Executive and Parliament.
The President of the Government, Ángel Víctor Torres (i), with the head of the CES, José Carlos Francisco. /
interim
For her part, the representative of
CC OO, Carmen Marrero, justified the abstention of the three representatives of this union in that, when the vacancy of the CES was raised, they established two fundamental premises. The first is that «after 32 years,
it was time it was led by a woman».
The second is that this organization understood that a
academic field profile "and apart from the link with the political and business sphere, including trade unions."
When the candidacy of Gloria Rojas fell, CCOO understands that the CES must
overcome these two years of interim "and play the role that corresponds to it as a consultative body of Canarian society." In his opinion, it was necessary to "give stability to the Economic and Social Council and José Carlos Francisco was the only candidate."
The top leader of
CC OO Canarias, Inocencio González, I cannot attend the event and will take office as director at the next meeting.
Whitout deal
By
UGT, its general secretary, Manuel Navarroindicated that they had been negotiating a candidacy for the Presidency for a long time but
it was not possible to reach an agreement.
As happened with CC OO, UGT was also in favor of a woman leading the Council, but recalled that since February, the employers have already proposed José Carlos Francisco. Upon the presentation of a single applicant
“it was not appropriate to vote against”pointed out Navarro, who pointed out that "we are here to work and develop the functions entrusted to the CES."
Regarding the division of the vote, he indicated that "historically there has been unanimity, but that does not make anyone a better president."
The members of the CES, with the President of the Government and the Minister of Employment. /
Confident that they will work together
Despite the result of the vote and the differences regarding the Presidency and the vice-presidencies that have been maintained until the end, businessmen and unions yesterday showed their confidence that the CES "will work together" to carry out the functions entrusted to it.
This was expressed by the CC OO representative and next vice-president, Carmen Marrero, who indicated that "once the Council has been constituted, what we have to do is work and all row in the same direction so that the CES is what it should be, a reflection of Canarian society", although he added that "the opportunity for it to be a woman was lost".
In this same sense, the general secretary of the UGT, Manuel Navarro, stated that "if something has been demonstrated, it is social dialogue between all parties" and insisted that "we come to contribute."
He did consider that "continuing in office was not the most appropriate" for the functioning of the Economic and Social Council.
The new president, José Carlos Francisco, also considers that the vote will not influence the work of the CES because, in addition, "half have already been, they know the dynamics, they have worked on agreement and we are going to work well."
He also clarified that it is not true that the head of the Council always comes out unanimously and recalled that the first president came out after three votes, compared to his yesterday, which was "the first". He was convinced that "it will work well."
