The Government Demands CGPJ to Deduct Salaries of Striking Judges

A week before the anticipated historic strike in Spain's justice sector, the Government has not taken steps to reach an agreement with the professional associations organising these strikes—all except the two progressive ones. Instead, it has urged the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) to take measures to deduct the salaries of judges and prosecutors participating in these protests against the controversial reforms the Ministry of Justice intends to implement.

Sources from the department led by Félix Bolaños confirmed that on Monday, during a meeting between the ministry and the associations, the Secretary of State for Justice, Manuel Olmedo, announced that he would send a notice to the governing body of judges to express its stance on the strike, scheduled for July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

This Wednesday, according to Europa Press, the Ministry of Justice has already sent the document to the Council, urging it to ensure the proportional deduction of salaries for judges and prosecutors supporting the strike. The department recalls that in 2009, the CGPJ stated that Spanish legislation "does not foresee the right to strike for judges and magistrates and, therefore, did not recognise the strike declared at that time."

However, the President of the Judiciary, Isabel Perelló, has called an extraordinary plenary session for 10:00 am this Thursday to form a unified position on the current issue, where most of the sector is opposed to the controversial legal changes the Government plans to implement in the coming months regarding its operations. Additionally, the ministry has requested clarification on whether it maintains its stance on whether members of the judiciary have the right to strike.