Under Spanish law, these organizations can also exercise D-C rights and enter into collective enterprise agreements. In this context, it can be read that a recent decree (Royal Decree 7/2011) gives priority to trade union sections over enterprise committees to conclude enterprise agreements when these unions have the majority of seats on the Workers` Committee. The year showed a consolidation of growth, a decline in the unemployment rate and an increase in real wages. In addition to improving the economic environment, three developments have pushed up wages and contributed positively to demand and growth: the high-level inter-professional agreement for 2018-2020, which set a minimum wage of 1000 euros in collective agreements; Raising the legal minimum wage; and the increase in real wages for public sector employees. In 2012, the People`s Party reformed this mechanism as part of a major reform of Spain`s labour market legislation (Law 3/2012). It has given priority to enterprise-level agreements over multi-pro-lease sector agreements (national, regional or provincial) on issues such as base pay and wage increases, even if the social partners decide to set up another collective bargaining structure. Nevertheless, a recent Supreme Court decision (264/2014) overturned the reform of the ultra-activity principle. The Supreme Court ratified the decision of the Balearic Islands courts in the ATESE case, in which the unions brought the company to court for its decision to reduce wages after the collective agreement is no longer in force (one year after its completion). The Supreme Court argued that the working conditions agreed in a collective agreement have a contractual status and must be applied even when collective bargaining is completed, which null anded the reform of the principle of ultra-activity.
With the emergence of the sovereign debt crisis and the implementation of austerity policies, the tripartite social dialogue has ceased. It is only since 2014, with the beginning of the economic recovery, that some tripartite pacts have been signed on specific issues. The tripartite social dialogue seems to have gained momentum in 2018 with the signing of agreements on youth employment and decent work. With regard to administrative disputes, the conciliation procedure is conducted in the presence of a simple lawyer mandated by the state, whose role is limited to facilitating the agreement. He or she will renounce any proposal. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement, they can ask for an institutional conciliation. In this case, the parties submit their conflict, according to their own will, to the decision of a person outside the administration of justice (a lawyer for a state-appointed official, who is not a judge).