Spain: Industrial relations

Updating author: Pablo Santos Fita, Andersen Tax & Legal
Original author: Jones Day

Summary

Employees are free to form trade unions and join unions of their choice, and may not be expelled from a union on discriminatory grounds. (See Trade unions)
There are several other types of collective agreement, such as procedural "framework" sectoral agreements and cross-industry or intersectoral agreements. (See Collective agreements)
Employees are represented collectively at company/workplace level through statutory workers' delegates or workers' committees. (See Informing and consulting employees - general)
The information and consultation obligations of employers with regard to redundancies depend on whether the redundancy is individual or collective. (See Informing and consulting prior to redundancies)
There are various rules regarding employers' obligations to inform and consult prior to business transfers. (See Informing and consulting prior to transfers)
"Community-scale" undertakings must, in certain circumstances, establish a body to negotiate with management over the establishment of a European Works Council or an information and consultation procedure. (See European Works Councils)
Workers have a fundamental right to strike in defence of their interests. It is an individual right, but must be exercised collectively. (See Industrial action and picketing)