Justice administration unions have reached an agreement with Minister Félix Bolaños to implement measures aimed at addressing the excessive heat—above 32 degrees Celsius—within the National Court located on Calle Génova. This heat issue has arisen due to a failure in the air conditioning system affecting two floors of the building.
Union representatives have informed Europa Press that they proposed several measures to the management, which is under the Ministry of Justice. The management has expressed agreement with these measures and indicated that the matter should be escalated to the National Court for implementation.
Specifically, the unions have suggested introducing work shifts that alternate between in-person and remote work. They have also proposed that, during heatwaves, mandatory in-person attendance should only be required until 1:00 PM.
To facilitate these adjustments, unions are calling for an enhancement of technical resources to support telecommuting. They are also requesting that the 10th and 6th floors of the building be made available so that some staff can work there during their in-office days.
Sources indicate that if their demands are not met, they will hold protests again next Wednesday until the situation is resolved. However, it is expected that a climate control company will visit the National Court on Monday and Tuesday to assess the air conditioning systems.
On the same day, National Court employees gathered in front of the court to protest the high temperatures in their workspaces. Javier Hernández, the state coordinator for the Justice sector in Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), shared with the media that they are experiencing temperatures above 32 degrees and have raised this issue for several weeks.
He emphasized that regulations specify a maximum indoor temperature of 27 degrees and stressed the need for their demands to be met, as well as for investments in better climate control solutions.
Last Monday, it was revealed that the CCOO had filed a complaint with the Labor Inspection, stating that for several weeks, temperatures exceeding 30 degrees have been reported on the second and fifth floors of the National Court in Madrid.
According to the complaint filed with the Justice Ministry and various associated administrative bodies, employees on those floors have been voicing their concerns about this “serious issue” for over a month, as it prevents them from providing adequate service to the public. The complaint noted that workers had received little response beyond assurances that a solution was being sought.
The situation in the Madrid community is set to worsen, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 40 degrees in the coming week. The complaint highlighted the urgent need for action to address this matter, particularly for the health of the affected personnel.
Among those affected are pregnant employees, who are more susceptible to heat-related issues. The complaint warns that without prompt intervention, employees may suffer health risks, including fainting or muscle pain.
CCOO included a chart with temperature records and noted that several critical judicial offices are located on the reported floors. They also reminded that labor safety regulations stipulate a temperature range of 17 to 27 degrees for sedentary office work.
Furthermore, the law entitles employees to leave their workplace if they deem that their health or life is at imminent risk. They pointed out that if no measures are taken, legal representatives have the authority to suspend activities of workers facing such risks.
Given these circumstances, the unions have urged the Labor Inspection to accept their complaint and conduct an immediate inquiry at the National Court’s second and fifth floors.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/espana/agencias/2024/07/25/sindicatos-y-justicia-pactan-medidas-para-paliar-temperaturas-de-mas-de-32-grados-en-una-sede-de-la-audiencia-nacional/
