International Paper Workers Protest in Tarragona Against Plant Closures

Around one hundred employees blocked traffic in Tarragona as the Ministry of Industry intervenes in potential sale talks.

Generic image of a crowd gathering in a city square with urban traffic in the background.
IA

Generic image of a crowd gathering in a city square with urban traffic in the background.

A hundred International Paper employees demonstrated this Thursday morning at Plaça Imperial Tarraco in Tarragona to protest against the planned closure of their production sites.

The workforce has been on an indefinite strike since last Tuesday, claiming that the company has not provided sufficient documentation to justify closing the Valls and Montblanc plants. The protest coincided with a meeting between union representatives and management.

"There are many deficiencies in the documentation presented to justify the closure; it is not enough."

Antonio Muriano · President of the Montblanc works council
While the company plans to begin the shutdown on March 19th, affecting 174 jobs, unions point to four purchase offers, including one from the Cristian Lay group. The Ministry of Industry is set to meet with the company to discuss these potential sales.