Barcelona council workers staged a significant protest this Saturday, demanding urgent improvements to their working conditions.
Approximately 500 municipal employees, including members of the Guàrdia Urbana and social services, gathered to pressure the city government over the stalled collective bargaining agreement.
Barcelona Council Workers Demand Fair Deal
The demonstration, organised by the Independent Civil Servants Union (CSIF), began at the Jardinets de Gràcia and proceeded to Plaça de Sant Jaume, directly outside the city hall.
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Furthermore, the union has issued a stark warning to the council. They suggest the week before Christmas could become “a black week” for the city if public workers, who are already making extraordinary efforts, decide to call in sick en masse.
This pressure tactic highlights the union’s frustration after weeks of negotiation. According to their statement, the council has failed to present meaningful salary improvements or significant advances. Instead, they criticise proposals they say create inequalities, such as implementing a 35-hour week with different criteria across sectors.
Additionally, the union opposes changes to sick leave that would reduce full salary coverage and penalise staff from the first day under a proposed new horizontal career structure. They argue these measures, alongside others negatively affecting work-life balance, show the council’s lack of genuine commitment to its workforce.
The protest comes at a politically sensitive time for Mayor Jaume Collboni’s administration. Consequently, the labour dispute adds another layer of complexity as the mayor navigates his minority government. This internal pressure follows recent reports detailing his reliance on confidence votes to pass key legislation like the city’s 2026 budget.
If the municipal government does not alter its approach, the CSIF has vowed to call for further mobilisations and pressure actions. The standoff underscores the challenging balancing act facing Barcelona’s leadership as it manages public services, fiscal responsibility, and employee relations in a tense political climate.
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