Road transport workers in Alicante held a two-day strike on January 23 and 24 and on February 6 and 7 amid concerns over the current collective bargaining agreement. The demand from CC OO and UGT unions centers on safeguarding workers’ purchasing power through salary increases aligned with the latest inflation rate.
After nearly two years without wage increases, employers in the sector continue to dispute the terms of the agreement they signed at the bargaining table, which is meant to protect staff purchasing power. In a public statement, they noted that diesel subsidies have recently benefited their fleets and pointed to a legal clause intended to ensure rate adjustments tied to diesel costs in commercial contracts. They argued that guarantees are needed and warned that price rises would be resisted by the terms of their collective bargaining templates. [Attribution: CC OO, UGT, and sector employers]
Background
On July 25, 2022, the employers’ association Fetrama and the unions UGT and CCOO announced that they had reached a formal agreement, aiming to preserve purchasing power through 2024. Negotiations were urged to continue through September. Yet, according to the unions, the employer side sought to bypass the contract by avoiding a text that would guarantee the consumer price index. Despite efforts by the unions to address the exceptional situation, they report that progress has stalled and that a clear CPI safeguard remains elusive. [Attribution: Fetrama, UGT, CCOO]
Transport strike in Alicante—first day shows limited participation
Unions say workers face an untenable situation and their representatives emphasize that promises should be kept. They argue that failing to uphold the agreement constitutes a grave breach of trust and a signal to workers that commitments are not binding. The response from the sector’s leadership remains centered on protecting income levels in the face of rising costs, including fuel. [Attribution: UGT, CC OO, and participating unions]