The UGT, CCOO and STEI trade unions today called on ordinary citizens of the Balearic Islands to take part in Sunday’s protests, to protest against tourist overcrowding and to demand a tourism model that does not generate “instability”. This was stated at a joint press conference by CCOO Secretary General José García, UGT Balearic Spokesperson Xisca Galli and STEI Secretary General Miquel Gelabert, who also called on people to take part in demonstrations to “change direction and limit tourism”.
They called for an economic model that “does not create job insecurity” and argued that tourist overcrowding impoverishes citizens, increases workload and does not improve quality of life. A spokesman for UGT Baleares considers overcrowding tourism to be “unsustainable” from a social, economic and environmental point of view. According to Galli, overcrowding tourism leads to an increase in workload, prevents access to housing and does not generate social welfare.
“Everything is growing in the Balearic Islands except the quality of life,” she said, criticizing the increase in tourists, flights, economic indicators, profits and jobs, saying “people’s lives are not improving.”
The CCOO executive director also spoke out against the issue, criticizing the model as one that “promotes labor exploitation” and “only enriches a few businessmen.” Moreover, he continued, the model has a negative impact in terms of “job insecurity,” which is manifested in “low wages” that make it difficult to cover the cost of living or to obtain housing.
Similarly, a UGT spokesperson criticized the fact that “all” rental property offers are for tourists, while residents “cannot find an apartment to live in” due to the high prices caused by “tourism.” According to the spokesperson, business profits from tourism “have no impact” on improving family and social welfare on the island, while overcrowding “pushes workers into poverty” and harsh working hours “make work and life more precarious.”
She called on the government to “take advantage” of the resignation of Mérta Vidal, the MEP for Housing, Territories and Mobility, to consider “courageous changes” to housing policy and to draw up an emergency plan with short-term measures and a strategy for the future. “We are seeing a model of precarious work and overcrowding, resulting in increased workloads,” said the CCOO secretary-general, noting that this is further impoverishing the working class.
The STEI secretary-general also asserted that the Balearic Islanders are “poverty” and that “this situation must be reversed. We are not saying no to tourism, we are saying no to overcrowding.” He also noted that the islands’ wealth is “unequally distributed” and that the average income in the Balearics is below the national average. But he called for a “change of direction” towards better social and economic justice.
Overall, the three unions called on the islands’ workers, but also the general public, to take part in Sunday’s demonstrations. “We do not want more inequality in the autonomous region,” Garcia concluded.
