THE WAGE STRUCTURE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AT THE LEVEL OF CATALONIA

The article presented here for the "Revista General de Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social" gravitates on pay equality and the wage gap in the territory of Catalonia during the years 2016 and 2017. The study highlights the wage inequalities that exist between men and women despite current regulations. The methodology used is the analysis of both laws on the subject and collective agreements. The latter will focus on research that aims to unravel the role of collective bargaining in matters of equality. With the first method, information was obtained regarding the agreements, the main characteristics of the agreements signed in Catalonia were evaluated by the most important unions, the Workers' Commissions (CCOO) and the General Union of Workers (UGT). On the other hand, the analytical method allowed to establish the essence that let the government create the defense of workers' labor rights, as well as to look for equity between the negotiating parties. In collective agreements, the salary structure plays a key role in negotiations. The workers hope salaries to increase annually, but in practice for many companies it is not feasible to do it. The presidents of the unions and the government should agree on alternatives that encourage contracting under legal parameters, providing job and economic stability, that can only be achieved through permanent social dialogue.