The five associations of judges and prosecutors that called the indefinite strike for May 16 have shown themselves in favor of delaying the call in order to continue negotiating with the Ministry of Justice for a salary improvement after the last failed meeting on Wednesday in which They rejected the offer of 46 million euros -up to about 490 euros a month- that Pilar Llop's team put on the table.

The majority association of judges, the Professional Association of the Magistracy (APM), has been the last to take the step after consulting its executive this Thursday. As reported, they have voted in favor of “suspend” the original call “as a gesture of goodwill” and “waiting for the progress that occurs in the Remuneration Table for the benefit of the interests of the judicial career.”

In a statement, the association has reiterated that “the Ministry's offer is still insufficient” and that they must “advance, in addition, in the adequacy of the population groups, in the increase in the payment of trienniums and guards and in other issues that affect the very structure” of their remuneration.

The APM has spoken of “suspend” the strike and has not specified any date in its statement. Thus, it has opted for a different formula from the one used by the other four convening associations, which have shown themselves in favor of delaying the strike until Monday, May 22, to continue negotiating with the Ministry.

From the association they have specified that they maintain their “freedom of action” depending on the events and the assessment that the results of the next meetings deserve, hence they have agreed not to set a date on the calendar.

The option of May 22

The APM and the Francisco de Vitoria Judicial Association (AJFV) have informed this Thursday of their decision regarding the strike after this Wednesday the other three convening associations -Independent Judicial Forum (FJI), Association of Prosecutors (AF) and Professional Association and Independent Prosecutors (APIF) – will be in favor of delaying the date.

This movement takes place after the meeting on Wednesday ended without an agreement -after more than six hours of negotiation- as it was not possible to reach an agreement to accept the Ministry's offer. Only the two progressive associations -JJpD and UPF- spoke in favor of signing the agreement with Justice.

From Francisco de Vitoria they have specified in a statement issued this Thursday that, although “the negotiations in the Remuneration Table have not borne fruit”, “three meetings of a negotiating body that has remained inert for more than one of each”.

In line, they have stressed that during these meetings their association has maintained “a constructive attitude, with a logical sequence of proposals that reveal a true negotiating spirit”. “From the responsibility, we now choose to maintain that same line of action and extend the margin of negotiation for a few days, as requested by the Ministry. We are confident that this additional margin will not be wasted.”

Tuesday's meeting with the Ministry

The seven associations will meet again at the Remuneration Table next Tuesday at 12:00 p.m.. As specified by Judges and Judges for Democracy (JJpD) in a statement this Thursday, that day the Ministry will deliver a document with an “economic offer of increase as a complement to adaptation to the efficiency laws, which is irremovable”.

“Finally, the process would end on May 18 with a new meeting in which the definitive positions of the associations must be established”, explained JJpD. And, in line, he has ensured that, in the event that the associations calling the strike do not agree to postpone it, two possibilities open up: that the Remuneration Table be terminated, “which would mean that the offer made is no longer will maintain”, or that negotiations continue only with the associations that do not support the strike.

The Justice and Public Service proposal

The initial offer, of about 44 million euros, represented 6% of the loss of purchasing power of judges and prosecutors, when the associations have already denounced that it has been close to 20%.. However, in a second meeting, the Ministry raised its original proposal by two million euros to reach 46.

According to sources close to the negotiation, this second offer would translate into salary increases ranging from 350 euros for Group 1 workers -such as prosecutor lieutenants, prosecutors of the Supreme Court and the National Court, Anti-drug and Anti-Corruption prosecutors and chief prosecutors of the Prosecutor's Offices. Provincials-, and up to 490 euros for Group 2 -second-category prosecutors- and 450 euros for Group 3 -third-category prosecutors-.

The Lawyers of the Administration of Justice (LAJ) achieved after two months of strike that the Government disbursed 22.7 million euros to improve the salary conditions of the 4,000 civil servants that make up this body.

Now, while the negotiations with judges and prosecutors are taking place, the rest of the justice administration officials (some 45,000) have been on strike with partial and total stoppages since April 17 to request some 200 million and threaten with a complete and indefinite strike from May 22.

Apart from the economic proposal to judges and prosecutors, Justice and the Treasury have offered associations of both races a relevant role in the implementation of the three efficiency laws, which are in the final phase of their parliamentary process and which are part of the Justice 2030 plan, as reported by the Ministry after the first meeting.