The Labor Day demonstration in Málaga, which for the first time served as the central national event, brought together prominent political and union figures. Among them were the Minister of Labor and the Minister of Social Inclusion and Social Security, alongside the general secretaries of the main unions, who emphasized the urgency of policies to halt the deterioration of living conditions.
Attendees marched through Central Málaga, from Muelle Heredia to the Plaza de la Constitución, in a demanding yet festive atmosphere. The march's slogan, “Rights, not trenches: wages, housing, and democracy,” resonated strongly, with the most chanted slogan being: “National priority: wages and housing.”
“"We also march to defend the Decree that the right-wing parties rejected in Congress. Thanks to that decree, contracts could be renewed, revaluing them by 5%. We have a Government to tell people who live in rented accommodation that we are going to do it again."
The housing crisis was one of the central themes of the demands. Union leaders pledged support for future mobilizations in this area, criticizing speculation and the tourist use of housing. Calls were made for the construction of two million affordable homes in the next decade and the implementation of measures to prevent speculation.
Another key point was the demand for wage improvements. Both the Minister of Labor and union representatives urged employers to share the benefits of the country's economic growth, through compliance with the Minimum Interprofessional Wage and the renegotiation of collective agreements. It was highlighted that companies are making significant profits, while wages are eroded by inflation and rising housing prices.
The choice of Málaga as the venue for the central demonstration had a strong symbolic and electoral component, given the proximity of the Andalusian elections. The city, known for its tourism boom, also faces a deep crisis in housing access and job insecurity, with thousands of workers below the SMI and an overload in labor courts.
