Tens of thousands of tourism industry workers have gone on strike across the Canary Islands today.
The walkout will last for 48 hours over Good Thursday and Good Friday.
Nearly 80,000 workers in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro have been called to participate in the industrial action, of which around 30,000 are in the hospitality sector.
The Canary Islands government has ordered minimum services of between 15% and 25% of usual levels for concierge, cleaning, maintenance, kitchens, and restaurants in accommodation establishments.
Photos shared by Brits online show hordes of workers marching through the streets of Tenerife while holding banners and chanting slogans.
It comes after negotiations between the ASHOTEL trade union and Canary Islands president Fernando Clavijo failed to result in a deal overnight.
Hospitality companies, represented by ASHOTEL and AERO, submitted a final offer to the unions, which was rejected, sparking the strike action.
Some 76,821 people are employed by the tourism industry in Tenerife alone, according to ASHOTEL figures.
Of these, 33,633 work in hotels while the rest (43,188) work in bars, restaurants or cafes.
The preliminary offer last night included a 6% salary increase, and the option to keep negotiating tables open until April 30 to address other issues.
However, trade union delegates voted to reject the proposal by 57 to 51. Negotiations are expected to reopen on Monday.
The general secretary of the CCOO trade union in the Canary Islands, Borja Suarez, said: ‘While (hotel) room prices have risen to the highest in Spain, wages remain anchored to the agreed-upon levels in an uncertain pandemic scenario.’
A strike was avoided in Las Palmas, after unions secured an 8% gross salary increase for workers in 2025.
