Pineda de Mar municipal brigade strike ends today

Workers demand salary and working condition improvements, leaving overflowing bins and trash bags on the streets.

Overflowing bins and trash on a street in Pineda de Mar during a municipal strike.
IA

Overflowing bins and trash on a street in Pineda de Mar during a municipal strike.

The three-day strike by the municipal brigade workers of Pineda de Mar concludes today, leaving a scene of overflowing bins and trash bags on the streets.

The labor dispute between the staff and the City Council has had visible repercussions in the municipality, including a blockade of the N-II highway and a protest march through the town center. Around forty workers gathered to demand solutions to negotiations that have been ongoing for two years, focusing on salary increases, bonuses, and more days off.
Union representatives allege that the council has failed to honor agreements regarding productivity bonuses, the regulation of on-call duties, and vacation management.
A key point of contention has been the sick leave policy. The City Council accuses the staff of abusing this system, recording 446 cases in two years, according to the mayor's data. Consequently, a limit of two sick days per year per worker was imposed, a measure that has been challenged by the unions and is awaiting a judicial decision.
The works committee views this restriction as an "abuse of power" and a unilateral change to working conditions without prior negotiation.
Although the strike has ended, the labor conflict remains unresolved. New meetings and an assembly are scheduled for next Monday to discuss the situation.