ERC, Junts per Barcelona, and Barcelona en Comú have compelled the Barcelona City Council to convene an extraordinary plenary session next Friday morning. This session will address the ongoing strike by municipal workers, with opposition parties criticising Mayor Jaume Collboni's administration for its alleged lack of dialogue and its handling of the dispute.
The strike, now in its second month, protests a new municipal collective agreement. Unions CGT, Àbacos, and La Intersindical claim this agreement reduces workers' rights and conditions. The dispute affects vital public services, including Citizen Service Offices (OACs), Social Services, feminisms departments, nurseries, and libraries across the city.
The opposition parties, representing a significant portion of the city's political landscape, have also demanded a detailed report from the government. They require this report within 60 days for each affected service. It must include a diagnosis of staffing levels, workload, professional-to-user ratios, and needs for additional personnel and resources. They also seek concrete, budgeted, and scheduled measures to improve the situation.
Workers Demand Dialogue and Improved Conditions
Meanwhile, striking workers continue public pressure. Following a protest through central Barcelona to Sant Jaume Square last Tuesday, they attended a public hearing in the Sant-Montjuïc district this Wednesday. Last week, workers also made their presence felt at a similar event in the Sant Andreu district. These districts, home to hundreds of thousands of Barcelona residents, face significant local concerns due to service disruptions. For example, Sant Andreu alone has over 150,000 inhabitants, while Sants-Montjuïc serves more than 180,000 people.
Miquel Rubio, a delegate from La Intersindical, expressed frustration at the perceived lack of engagement. He asked, "When will they talk to them, when will they stop making [the unions] chase them through municipal plenaries and public hearings to talk?" Rubio accused the government of "violating all democratic and transparency mandates of institutions while dismantling this city's public services." He added, "We have been on strike for two months. We want to know when you will talk or if you intend to systematically ignore us."
Impact on Essential Social Services
The ongoing strike has tangible consequences for Barcelona's most vulnerable residents. It directly impacts families relying on crucial social support. Israel, a social services worker, highlighted severe delays in essential aid. He questioned Fifth Deputy Mayor Raquel Gil, "What do we tell families who ask us for basic food aid (100-150 euros) that a few months ago they received in about three days and now it takes more than 15?" He also noted a critical lack of emergency accommodation. "If an eviction occurs, even with children, the family is left on the street," Israel stated. These delays directly impact Barcelona's most vulnerable families, who rely on timely support for basic necessities.
City Council Defends Budget and Agreement
Fifth Deputy Mayor Raquel Gil defended the City Council's position during the Sant-Montjuïc public hearing. She asserted that the budget for the Municipal Institute of Social Services (IMSS) is "the highest it has ever been." Gil also stated that the new collective agreement "was made with the majority of the social side and with all the parties that have supported the strikers by calling the plenary session." She acknowledged "spaces for conversations and negotiation with the IMSS management." However, Gil cautioned that "even if more listening spaces are created, not all demands will materialise." This stance indicates ongoing challenges in reaching a full resolution to the labour dispute. The City Council aims to balance budgetary constraints with worker demands.
The extraordinary plenary session next Friday will provide a crucial platform for further debate. It will force the Collboni administration to publicly address the municipal workers' grievances and the opposition's demands. Residents across Barcelona await developments, hoping for a swift resolution to the dispute affecting essential city services.
Come and join our Barcelona English Speakers community on WhatsApp.
Originally published by Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life. Read original article.
