Barcelona City Council direct service staff are on strike today, 25 April. They protest the collapse of public services and the government's refusal to negotiate. This industrial action includes a unified demonstration through the city centre. It starts at University Square at 11:00 and concludes at Sant Jaume Square around 12:30. This marks the first unified mobilisation in a long-running dispute affecting essential services for Barcelona residents.
Strikers organised into two columns for the protest. Staff from citizen service offices, libraries, and nurseries began their march at 09:30. They started from Creu Coberta Street, 104, in front of the Sants-Montjuïc district headquarters. Meanwhile, social services and feminism department personnel departed at the same time. Their starting point was València Street, 344, the location of the Municipal Institute of Social Services. These actions highlight widespread discontent among public sector employees.
Demands and Negotiations
The demands presented by the workers are not new. They have mobilised in neighbourhoods for months. They denounce a chronic lack of resources and a significant loss of purchasing power. Additionally, staff protest the unequal application of the 35-hour working week without compensation. Staff also protest cuts to work-life balance rights and medical leave provisions. The Intersindical union registered a formal request with the City Council on 18 April. It demanded the formation of a negotiation table.
The union also requested that municipal government representatives receive the collective's representatives today. This meeting was planned for Sant Jaume Square, following the demonstration. The Intersindical union regrets that the government has not addressed any of these petitions. However, other political groups within the plenary have agreed to meet the striking workers. These include Comuns, ERC, and Junts, who will meet them at the City Council doors. This contrast underscores the ongoing political tension surrounding the dispute.
Library Staff Join Protests
In a parallel development, staff from the Barcelona Library Consortium have called for an indefinite strike. This includes action on Saint George's Day and every Saturday. They protest "growing discontent" regarding the management of their adherence to the new Barcelona City Council agreement. The works council represents the Intersindical and CGT unions. It accuses the consortium and the administration of a lack of negotiation and a deterioration of working conditions.
Representatives from the CGT union within the Barcelona Provincial Council's library network will also join the protests. They highlight a critical situation that has persisted for years. This particular protest began with the occupation of the Sarrià, J. V. Foix Library. This is a significant cultural institution in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district. The combined actions signal a broader dissatisfaction across public library services in the region.
The Intersindical union warns that today's mobilisation is not an sporadic event. It is another step in a labour conflict that, it says, will intensify in the coming weeks. Residents rely on these vital public services, from childcare to social support and library access. They may experience continued disruptions as the dispute escalates. The City Council faces increasing pressure to address the long-standing grievances of its direct service employees.
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Originally published by VilaWeb Feed. Read original article.
