Mutualist lawyers and attorneys demand a dignified retirement: 'We're going to flood Madrid'

A year and a half after the start of their protests, the #J2 Movement took a major step at the general assemblies of lawyers, court representatives, and managers on June 29. In all of them, a vote was held against the merger by absorption sought by Mutualidad President Enrique Sanz Fernández-Lomana.

It should be recalled that the Movement is made up of lawyers, court representatives, and mutualist managers seeking the transition to RETA. In other words, they seek to leave Mutualidad to join the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers. They also seek access to a decent retirement.

Furthermore, a major advance was achieved in the Mutualidad de la Procura. In this Assembly, there was significant presence of the Movement on the Board of Directors. These new members are trying to help the movement to make the transition effective.

However, the transition to RETA for mutualists still hasn't been made effective. For this reason, on September 13, several demonstrations were held throughout Spain in front of the General Treasury of Social Security.

In addition, on September 28, a massive demonstration of the Movement will take place in Madrid. This will be the third of such magnitude after those held in February and April. Mutualidad de la Procura has given its support to its mutualists and, as an institution, will be present at the demonstration.

Elcierredigital.com has contacted court representative and member of the #J2 Movement, Paloma Cebrián. "We're making more and more progress, after a year and a half of fighting, we're starting to see light in the situation," she points out.

"We're seeking to have our demands regarding the transition to RETA and retirement heard. This transition to RETA must be for all mutualists regardless of their circumstances. The same goes for retirement, which shouldn't depend on vulnerability," adds Cebrián.

The Third Massive Demonstration

The #J2 Movement's massive demonstration will begin at 11:00 a.m. on September 28 at 39 José Abascal Street. The starting point is located at the headquarters of the Ministry of Social Security and Inclusion.

"We believe that it's the main party responsible for our demands and the Ministry that affects our claims. Moreover, after their objections to the situation, we see it as ideal for it to be held from that Ministry," stresses Paloma Cebrián.

Minister Elma Saiz has made several statements regarding the claims, but she hasn't met with those affected. Saiz has indicated that mutualists must be vulnerable to receive a pension.

Paloma Cebrián observes that "the rest of Spaniards receive a pension regardless of whether they're vulnerable or not. We'd like to be able to discuss the situation with the minister."

"The main reason for the demonstration is that legislation shouldn't be enacted without taking into account those affected by the mutual societies. We want to achieve a meeting between the minister and those affected and to have legislation enacted in our favor," Cebrián states.

"The call for this demonstration is due to the need to give visibility to the problem that we mutualists have. As a result of the movement, other mutualists such as architects or engineers will join," adds Cebrián.

"We're going to flood Madrid, we can't take it anymore, this is dragging on excessively. The minister and the Secretary of State for Social Security don't receive us or speak with us. We're afraid that legislation will be enacted without taking into account those affected," explains Paloma Cebrián.

At the same time as this gathering, another will take place, starting from Plaza de España. This march is organized by the Venia and Marea unions. Both demonstrations will join at Cibeles, but the #J2 Movement's will end at Cibeles and the other at Neptuno.

"The Venia and Marea demonstration, apart from the transition, also demands the duty shift. However, these two unions have joined the demands of the #J2 Movement," concludes Cebrián.

The #J2 Movement And The Transition To RETA

Since the #J2 Movement, formed over a year ago, they've been trying to obtain a Royal Decree that would allow the transition from Mutualidad to the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA).

With this, they seek for all the years that lawyers and court representatives have been contributing to the mutual societies to be transferred to RETA in order to obtain a decent retirement.

According to what Cebrián explained to elcierredigital.com,lawyers and court representatives could only practice their profession if they joined a mutual society. Starting in 1995, it became possible to contribute to RETA.

However, there were already many professionals with years of contributions behind them who would lose what they'd paid in if they switched to the new system.

The mutual societies changed their legislative framework in 2005 and became insurance companies. "Now what we have is a pension plan," the court representative added.

"There are colleagues who, after 40 years of working, are receiving less than the contributory pension. That's why there are lawyers and court representatives who don't retire even at 80 years old. Because they can't," Cebrián stated.

According to them, "for those affiliated with a mutual society, there is no widow's or orphan's pension. Claims are covered with personal contributions. Temporary disabilities caused by mental health issues are covered for a maximum of 60 days for their entire professional life."

"In addition, temporary disabilities caused by illness or accident are covered for a maximum of 365 days in a lifetime. When it comes to public healthcare, they still have limitations and different conditions," they added.

Regarding contributions, the money that mutualists have been paying in can be obtained in two ways: either in a single payment or over ten years.

In the first case, Cebrián states that it would mean "a 40 percent tax," because it's withheld as "savings income, not employment income." In the second, they'd only receive monthly payments as a pension for ten years, distributed in 12 payments and without updating for inflation (IPC).