Correos workers in Ibiza and Formentera should receive almost double their current salary to be able to live with dignity on the islands, according to a study by the Intercoopera Foundation cited by CCOO. The union has pointed out that the negotiation of the new collective agreement must take into account the economic reality of the Pitiusas, where the current salaries are far below the real cost of living.
The study indicates that, to cover basic needs, the average salary in the Balearic Islands should be 1,983 euros net per month in 14 payments, while in Formentera it should be 2,632 euros and in Ibiza 2,470 euros. However, Correos workers currently receive between 1,200 and 1,400 euros, which, according to CCOO, is leading employees to an “economic distress” that is forcing their migration to the mainland and leaving vacancies unfilled.
Vacancies and insufficient residency bonus
The union has denounced that the economic imbalance in Ibiza and Formentera is not only a problem of insularity, but of a disproportionate cost of living compared to salaries. Despite the existence of a residence bonus, this only amounts to 65.63 euros gross per month, an amount they consider insufficient to compensate for the high cost of housing and other goods and services on the islands. To correct this situation, CCOO demands that the new collective agreement contemplate three urgent measures:
- A significant increase in the insularity bonus.
- The creation of a bonus for positions that are difficult to fill, which guarantees the stability of the service in the Pitiusas Islands.
- A complement of social economic balance, which equates the salaries of Ibiza and Formentera with the average standard of living in the rest of Spain.
Institutional support for CCOO’s demands
The union has highlighted the support of the president of the Consell de Ibiza, Vicent Marí, who has sent a letter to the president of Correos, Pedro Saura, supporting the salary demands of the workers. CCOO has warned that, without an improvement in the economic conditions, it will be impossible to fill and stabilize the vacant positions in Ibiza and Formentera, which will directly affect the provision of the Universal Postal Service, as established by Law 43/2010.
