Labor tensions escalate as Alicante transport strike unfolds amid CPI-linked wage dispute
The surge in inflation is shaping a heated clash over wages and purchasing power in the Spanish transport sector. In Alicante, roughly ten thousand road freight workers have been mobilized for strikes on January 23 and 24, and again on February 6 and 7. At the center of the dispute are calls from CC OO and UGT unions for a wage review clause tied to the consumer price index, meant to preserve workers’ purchasing power. Employers, in contrast, propose a 16% wage increase spread over a four-year period. Negotiations have stalled, but both sides remain open to a last-minute agreement to prevent further mobilization.
Union leaders point out that employers in the sector have not raised salaries for nearly two years and continue to resist the contract they signed at the table of the collective bargaining agreement, which guarantees purchasing power for staff. They note that companies received diesel subsidies for their fleets and that commercial contracts already include clauses aimed at stabilizing diesel-related costs. Yet unions say those guarantees do not extend to the workforce and they will not tolerate a breach of the agreed terms. The message is clear: steadfastly defend the wage protections promised during negotiations.
On July 25, 2022, a formal agreement was reached at the bargaining table with the participation of Fetrama, UGT, and CC OO. That accord laid out a path to sustain purchasing power through 2024. The retroactive increases included 3% for 2021, 3.5% with CPI-driven updates up to 2% for 2022, 2.5% with up to 1% updates for 2023, and 2% for 2024. A parallel update applied to the corresponding salary tables was agreed last year to reflect these increases and real CPI movements. These provisions were intended to provide a stable baseline in the face of inflation, but several months later the discussions around ongoing adjustments resurfaced and the parties were urged to continue negotiations through September. The unions insist that the contract must guarantee CPI-linked progression, while employers argue the text covers a broader set of variables and should not be read in isolation from other contractual commitments. In other words, both sides want a reliable framework, but they disagree on how strictly to define the price evolution safeguard.
The unions emphasize that the sector’s employees face an unsustainable situation, arguing that the break with the CPI protection would disrespect workers who have trusted the agreement. They describe the situation as a breach of promise, stressing that protecting family budgets amid rising prices is essential to avoid social and economic harm. With the strike now four days long, CC OO-PV’s Francisco Gimeno frames the issue as a balance between moderate company-friendly increases and a firm Salary review that ensures workers do not lose ground to inflation. The goal, he says, is to shield workers from price pressures without crippling business viability in a tight market.
UGT’s Alicante Highway sector head, Francisco Vilaplana, voices a parallel concern, highlighting the real consequences for drivers who face low base pay plus inflation. He notes that some workers are reluctant to pursue long-haul international transport, even though there is demand for competent professionals. The reality, according to Vilaplana, is that residents notice a shortage of willing drivers, particularly when base salaries hover around 1,200 euros. The argument from workers is straightforward: wages must keep pace with rising costs if families are to meet daily needs without sacrificing services or job security.
Stance shifts and ongoing dialogue
On the employer side, Francisco Ortiz, general secretary of the Alicante Provincial Transport Federation (Fetrama), expresses a more cautious tone. He regrets the timing of the strike, arguing that the positions are closer than many perceive and that a broad view of the contract should guide negotiations. He rejects the notion that the July agreement was violated by focusing on a single article, insisting that the contract comprises multiple variables that must be considered in total. His stance reflects a desire to keep talks alive while maintaining a pragmatic view of what enterprise viability requires in a challenging economic period.
Ortiz also recalls that the proposed package included a substantial salary increase, averaging around 16 percent across the four-year horizon. He underscores that the employer attachment to a CPI-linked clause is not a departure from the goal of a fair agreement, but rather a matter of framing the price evolution within a broader, sustainable compensation plan. The hope remains that the unions will not escalate the conflict and that both sides can reach a settlement that avoids disrupting the sector further and harming workers, clients, and the regional economy alike.
The transport sector’s leadership stresses that negotiations will continue with the aim of producing a durable, workable agreement. They acknowledge the risk to workers if talks stall, but insist that any resolution must reconcile wage protections with a sustainable wage policy for employers. The ongoing dialogue is framed as a shared responsibility to prevent unnecessary disruption while ensuring that wages reflect the cost of living in the current climate.
As the strike unfolds, observers note the broader implications for supply chains and regional commerce. The Alicante dispute resonates beyond local workers, raising questions about how wage protection measures interact with broader inflationary pressures, fleet costs, and productivity. For residents across Canada and the United States who monitor international transport patterns, the series of developments in this Spanish province offers a real-world glimpse into how wage policy and labor actions can reverberate through global logistics networks.
In the near term, both sides reiterate their willingness to negotiate with the shared objective of avoiding a protracted disruption. The unions advocate for a robust CPI-linked adjustment to safeguard real wages, while the employers seek to preserve a viable compensation framework that accommodates price changes without undermining competitiveness. The coming days will determine whether a deal can bridge the gap and avert further mobilization or whether the strike will extend beyond the planned four days, underscoring the high stakes involved in wage protection during periods of inflationary pressure.