Op-ed: Labor unions must win back their voice

Close to a million people in various provincial capitals supported protests held by UGT and CCOO yesterday. The secretary general of CCOO, Ignacio Fernández Toxo, cited this number of figures. The number does not align with police estimations, but it does reflect one truth. This protest saw a higher following than similar protests held in 2011 when a frustrated 15-M platform spoke out against the Spanish government.

Given the rise in unemployment and sharpening of the crisis since then, a larger following was expected. Labor unions lost their pull and influence on legislature during Zapatero's regime.

Unions have to try hard to ensure that dialogues are the method for strengthening and recovering their role as key voices in Spain's economic crisis.