Fuel station workers across Spain are set to walk out on April 30 and May 3, it has been announced.
The coordinated strike threatens disruption during one of the busiest travel periods of the spring.
The action, called by unions UGT FICA and CCOO Industria, coincides with the May Day bank holiday and is aimed at forcing a breakthrough in stalled negotiations over a new sector-wide collective agreement.
Talks collapse after ‘step backwards’
According to the unions, months of negotiations had produced partial progress – but talks have now hit a wall after what they describe as an ‘unacceptable’ reversal by employers.
They accuse the sector’s business representatives of withdrawing previously discussed proposals and tabling a pay offer that is ‘clearly regressive’.
At the heart of the dispute is wages.
Unions say companies are trying to limit salary increases linked to inflation (IPC), without guaranteeing workers maintain their purchasing power. They also claim previously agreed pay rises have been scrapped.
Workers ‘paying the price’
Union leaders argue the proposals would once again shift the burden of economic pressures onto employees, despite high fuel prices and continued profits across the industry.
They have called for a minimum annual pay rise of 2%, alongside a safeguard clause ensuring wages rise in line with real inflation plus an additional 0.5%.
More than just pay
Unions are also demanding improvements in working conditions, including better work-life balance measures, reduced working hours and enhanced bonuses, arguing these are essential to ‘dignify’ jobs in the sector.
Disruption expected
With strikes planned on two key travel dates, drivers across Spain could face reduced staffing and potential disruption at petrol stations, particularly in busy zones during the holiday period.
The unions say the walkouts are designed to ramp up pressure on employers and force a return to meaningful negotiations, warning that further action could follow if no deal is reached.
