Curriculum

Although he was born in Vila de Cruces (Pontevedra), he lived in Santiago since he was a child until he was 23. Then he moved to A Coruña, where he is living now. In 1967, he started to collaborate in the organization of the first Workers' Trade Union centres in Vigo, Ferrol and A Coruña. In 1977, owing to the Congress to merge the Workers' Trade Union (USO) with the General Workers' Union (UGT), he became a member of the Socialist Syndicate in A Coruña. He also joined the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE). He took part in some tasks of the syndicate organization, being nominated as general secretary of the local union of the General Workers' Union in A Coruña in 1978. In August 1980, in the Second Congress of the Galician General Workers' Union that was celebrated in Ferrol, he was elected as General Secretary of the trade union. He still holds this responsibility nowadays.In 1985, he was elected as deputy of the Galician Socialist Party but he gave up three years later, some days before the general strike on 14th December 1988.While he was at the Parliament, he took the initiative of the Law that created the 'Consello Galego de Relacións Laborais'.In 1985, he took part in the creation and constitution of the Syndical Committee between Galicia and North Portugal and also became the first president. Representing this committee, he took part in the seventh Statutory Congress of the European Trade Union Confederation, which was celebrated in Luxembourg in May 1991.In 1989, he promoted the constitution of the Foundation to defend consumers (FUNDECO) and 'María Xosé Arcos' Foundation to defend women's rights. Among the multiple activities carried out throughout these years, he took part in the leadership of three general strikes: on 14th December 1988, 2nd April 1992 and 27th January 1993.