CCOO files labor complaint against school escort contractor in Córdoba over pregnancy restrictions

Labor complaint lodged in Córdoba

The Education Union of CCOO in Córdoba submitted a formal complaint on 30 September 2026 to the Labour Inspectorate against Factor Deporte, Ocio y Formación. The company serves as the municipal contractor responsible for Camino al cole, a school accompaniment service organized by the Córdoba City Council. The union filed the legal action after reviewing internal documentation distributed to personnel assigned to the program. According to union representatives, the company pressured staff into making binding commitments regarding personal circumstances, including marriage, medical procedures, and pregnancy. Fernando Rueda, who serves as the head of Private Education and Socio-Educational Services at CCOO Córdoba, announced the filing on behalf of the municipal service workers.

This request is absolutely illegal and discriminatory and represents a brutal attack on the labor rights of working people in general, and women in particular.

Terms of the employee registry and absence penalties

The primary basis of the filing rests on an internal company questionnaire titled Employee Registry. In this form, employees were instructed to certify that they had stated during job interviews that they had no circumstances planned that could prevent their continuity during the contract. The document explicitly listed travel, family matters, pregnancy, surgical operations, weddings, and other jobs as situations requiring employee declaration. CCOO also reported a second formal communication sent by the company regarding attendance rules and financial penalties. Factor Deporte warned workers that any absence occurring without prior notice and authorization would lead to wage deductions calculated to cover the resulting operational expenses. The union identified both requirements as abusive practices that violate core labor protections.

Working hour reductions under new management

The labor union reported further irregularities concerning unilateral changes to working hours. Following the transfer of the municipal contract from the prior vendor, Factor Deporte, Ocio y Formación reduced the daily work shift from 2.0 hours to 1.5 hours. Company representatives defended the reduction by attributing the reduced schedule to the municipal contract terms awarded by the city. CCOO contested this position, noting that the contractor is bound to respect the working conditions inherited from the previous provider. The union argued that the schedule reduction causes further wage loss for employees already in precarious part-time roles.

Political criticism and call for municipal intervention

The labor dispute led CCOO to direct criticism at the municipal administration led by the Popular Party in Córdoba. Union leadership stated that the issues reflect systemic problems associated with public service privatization and subcontracting. Fernando Rueda called on the Córdoba City Council to take direct action to compel municipal contractors to comply with national labor regulations.

These are the consequences of the outsourcing to which PP governments have accustomed us, with job insecurity, abuses, harassment, and contempt for working people.

The union submitted the documentation to the Labour Inspectorate to determine whether the company's operational policies and employment conditions violate current labor laws. CCOO indicated that the labor authority must evaluate the evidence and enforce regulatory compliance across municipal contracts.