The Labour Inspectorate has issued a serious infraction report against Siresa, a public waste management company and subsidiary of Tersa, for violating employees’ right to strike. This occurred during industrial action at Barcelona’s ‘punts verds’ and several metropolitan municipalities in April and May 2025. The Labour Inspectorate, a body under the Generalitat de Catalunya, based its decision on Article 4 of the Workers’ Statute.
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Now, the Departament d’Empresa i Treball (Department of Business and Labour) of the Generalitat de Catalunya will determine the severity of the infraction. They will also calculate the appropriate fine for Siresa. The company is responsible for managing the ‘punts verds’, which are essential local waste collection points for residents across Barcelona and its surrounding areas.
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Strike Action and Company Response
The events detailed in the report, accessed by Metrópoli, took place on 22 April and 31 May 2025, both designated strike days. Siresa employs three full-time supervisors and one part-time substitute supervisor. All three full-time supervisors participated in the strike, which primarily concerned salary increases for workers.
Siresa, headquartered in Sant Adrià de Besòs, subsequently offered the substitute supervisor additional hours to cover the shifts of the striking workers. This employee’s task involved inspecting closed ‘punts verds’ for accumulated waste. If waste was found, the supervisor was instructed to contact the local council to arrange for collection by other operatives.
Violation of Fundamental Rights
The Labour Inspectorate concluded that this specific task, which is not a standard duty for supervisors, constituted a violation of the striking supervisors’ rights. The inspector noted that the extraordinary shift was offered to an employee who was not scheduled to work that day. Furthermore, the offer was made only after the company became aware of the planned strike. The inspector’s report states, “This task clearly aimed to counteract the effects caused by the strike.” It added, “The fact that measures were adopted to prevent waste from remaining outside the ‘Punts Verds’ effectively meant the collection service remained operational in the eyes of the user.”
Union Demands Accountability
The CTTR union, which represents the majority of Siresa’s workforce, strongly condemned the company’s actions. In an internal statement seen by Metrópoli, the union declared, “The poor management by the leadership has resulted in the violation of a fundamental right: the right to strike.” The union is now demanding a thorough investigation into these events.
CTTR also called for all responsible parties to be held accountable. They urged the adoption of necessary measures to ensure full respect for employees’ rights. The union concluded, “We understand that the seriousness of these events demands diligent and transparent action from management, to preserve legality, institutional integrity, and the fundamental rights of the workforce.”
This sanction highlights the critical importance of upholding workers’ rights during industrial disputes. The upcoming decision from the Departament d’Empresa i Treball will set a precedent for how public companies in Catalonia must navigate strike actions in the future.
Originally published by Metrópoli Abierta – Urban Life. Read original article.
