Intersindical Alternativa de Catalunya

The Intersindical Alternativa de Catalunya (IAC) is a Catalan trade union organization of a confederal nature that brings together several sectoral unions, mainly in the public sector. It is characterized by an assembly model and is part of the current of alternative trade unionism. It has a prominent presence among the civil service personnel of the Generalitat de Catalunya.[1]

According to its documentation, the IAC defines itself as a class, assembly and independent trade union organization. It defends the direct participation of the membership, it supports provision of public services and seeks the improvement of working conditions.[2]

History

The IAC was formally established on 30 November 1997, thus providing coordination between several public sector unions.[2] The founding unions were CATAC-CTS, CAU, IAC-CATAC and USTEC-STEs. Later, other organizations such as the FTC and the Sindicat Ferroviari (SF) were incorporated.[2]

The IAC is one of the principal organizations within Catalan alternative trade unionism, especially in sectors such as education and public administration.[3][4]

Structure and organization

The IAC is organized as a confederation of unions with assembly-like functioning. Its main bodies are:

  • Confederal Congress: highest decision-making body.
  • Confederal National Council: direction between congresses.
  • Confederal National Secretariat: executive body.
  • Permanent Secretariat: in charge of ordinary management.
  • Guarantees Commission: responsible for compliance with the statutes.

It also has a group of retirees and pensioners, territorial coordinators and various functional secretariats. Its spokespeople are Assumpta Barbens and David Caño.[5]

Union activity

Relations and alliances

The IAC is part of the Taula Sindical de Catalunya,[6] a space for coordinating alternative and combative unionism that brings together several union organizations, including the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), the National Confederation of Labor (CNT), the Coordinadora Obrera Sindical (COS), the Union of Base Commissions (Co.bas) and Solidaritat Obrera.[7][8]

This space acts as a unitary platform to promote mobilizations, public positions and joint calls in the labor and social fields, especially in defense of public services, labor rights and international solidarity actions. The IAC's participation in this field reinforces its role within alternative unionism in Catalonia.

Calls to action

The IAC has participated in several labor and social mobilizations. Among the most prominent is the participation in the general strike of 3 October 2017, called in the context of the referendum on the independence of Catalonia. It also participated in the strike calls of 8 March in the framework of the feminist strike.[9] In 2019, it was part of strike calls in defense of rights and freedoms.[10]

International mobilizations

The IAC has participated in international solidarity mobilizations, especially in relation to the genocide in Gaza. On 15 October 2025, it called for a general strike in solidarity with Palestine, with a call to “stop everything” in the face of the situation of crimes against humanity.[11] The day was developed with mobilizations and monitoring in various economic and labor sectors, as well as demonstrations in different parts of Catalonia.[12][13][14]

This call occurred in a context of international mobilizations and denunciation of actions against civil initiatives in support of Palestine, such as the assault on the Global Sumud Flotilla of 2025, an international mission with the participation of activists, among whom were people linked to the IAC’s union environment.[15]

In continuation of these mobilizations, in April 2026 members of the IAC formed part of a Catalan delegation of about 40 people that participated in a new initiative of the Global Sumud Flotilla, with the aim of bringing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "El independentismo arrasa entre los funcionarios de la Generalitat" [Independence is rampant among Government officials]. El Periódico (in Spanish). 6 March 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "La IAC – Confederació de sindicats assemblearis, combatius i de classe" [The IAC – Confederation of assembly, combative and class unions]. iac.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Nuevos retos para el sindicalismo alternativo en Catalunya: por una Renta Básica incondicional" [New challenges for alternative trade unionism in Catalonia: for an unconditional Basic Income]. www.sinpermiso.info (in Spanish). 31 January 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  4. ↑ Rodríguez, David (6 February 2022). "La movilización y la apuesta por la base, las herramientas de los sindicatos alternativos para consolidar su crecimiento en Catalunya" [The mobilization and the commitment to the base, the tools of the alternative unions to consolidate their growth in Catalonia]. www.publico.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "ESTRUCTURA ORGÀNICA – Confederació de sindicats assemblearis, combatius i de classe" [ORGANIC STRUCTURE – Confederation of assembly, combative and class unions]. iac.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "Ustec, CGT e IAC cargan en el 1 de mayo en Catalunya contra la política educativa del Govern" [Ustec, CGT and IAC charge on May 1 in Catalonia against the Government's education policy]. CatalunyaPress (in Spanish). 2026-05-01. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "La Taula Sindical de Catalunya defensa la «necessitat de sortir al carrer» per la vaga del 15 d'octubre" [The Trade Union Board of Catalonia defends the "need to take to the streets" for the strike on October 15]. Nació (in Catalan). Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "La Taula Sindical de Catalunya crida a la vaga i a mobilitzar-se el 15 d'octubre contra el genocidi a Gaza" [The Trade Union Board of Catalonia calls for a strike and mobilization on October 15 against the genocide in Gaza]. Social.cat (in Catalan). 9 October 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Intersindical Alternativa convoca 24 horas de huelga este 8M y ve un "insulto" parar dos horas" [Intersyndical Alternativa calls a 24-hour strike this May 8 and an "insult" comes to stop for two hours]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 7 March 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "La Intersindical-CSC y la IAC llaman a la huelga por "los derechos y las libertades"" [The Intersyndical-CSC and the IAC call for a strike for "rights and freedoms"]. www.europapress.es. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "La IAC llama a "pararlo todo" en una huelga general por Palestina el próximo 15 de octubre" [The IAC calls to "stop everything" in a general strike for Palestine on October 15th]. www.europapress.es. 8 October 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Catalunya afronta una jornada de vaga per Gaza" [Catalonia faces a one-day strike for Gaza]. Europa Press. 15 October 2025.
  13. ↑ "Mobilitzacions i serveis mínims durant la vaga" [Mobilizations and minimum services during the strike]. RAC1. 15 October 2025.
  14. ↑ "Seguiment de la vaga per Palestina" [Follow-up of the strike for Palestine]. VilaWeb. 15 October 2025.
  15. ↑ Baquero, Camilo S. (2 October 2025). "De Ada Colau a marineros anónimos: quiénes son los españoles de la Global Sumud Flotilla" [From Ada Colau to anonymous sailors: who are the Spaniards of the Global Sumud Flotilla?]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "Una delegación catalana de 40 personas zarpará con la Global Sumud Flotilla hacia Gaza este domingo" [A Catalan delegation of 40 people will set sail with the Global Sumud Flotilla towards Gaza this Sunday]. www.europapress.es. 11 April 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
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