Spain: Social partners reach deal to "unblock" bargaining

Spain's main trade unions and employers' organisations agreed in November 2009 a joint approach to resolving problems that have plagued collective bargaining in 2009, thereby opening the way for them to negotiate over a national framework agreement for bargaining in 2010 and beyond.

Collective bargaining has proved difficult in many sectors and companies during 2009, against the backdrop of Spain's deep recession.