A demonstration organized by the CSIF union took place in central Madrid this Saturday, drawing attention to demands for salary increases in both the private and public sectors. The protest aimed to address the erosion of purchasing power driven by rising prices, marking what organizers described as the first major mobilization in response to the country’s economic challenges. In their statements, CSIF criticized what they view as the government’s measures as ineffective, signaling a broader frustration with how wages have kept pace with costs.
According to reports, hundreds of buses were deployed to bring supporters and sympathetic participants from various regions to the Spanish capital. To help offset travel and meal costs, CSIF disclosed that some financial assistance would be provided, including a daily allowance for participants arriving from Barcelona. The amount mentioned in conversations with the press was 37.40 euros, reflecting the cost-of-living considerations surrounding the event.
Officials from the union explained in informational messages sent to prospective attendees that the daily diet allowance would be paid to participants who remained throughout the day. The goal behind this support is to recoup the time and expenses associated with traveling from outside Madrid, ensuring that those who travel long distances can participate without bearing the full cost themselves.
The demonstration was described as open to all citizens and framed as a collective protest against social impoverishment. Organizers called for fair wage increases, dignified retirement conditions, and higher-quality public services. The march was planned to begin at midday at Carrera de San Jerónimo and to conclude at Paseo del Prado, adjacent to the Congress of Deputies, with a continuation toward Plaza Colón before its expected finish around 2:00 p.m.
CSIF outlined five central requests for the government as part of the protest. First, the union pressed for a retroactive and updated salary rise for public sector workers within the year, arguing that improving purchasing power requires restoring real wages in line with price increases. They pointed to a measure reportedly similar to a policy adopted by the French government last July as a reference point for their proposal. Second, CSIF called for a multi-year salary-increase framework that would anchor the recovery in purchasing power across time, citing a cumulative decline since 2010 estimated at around twenty percent.
The third point urged the government to implement effective economic actions to help workers cope with the pronounced increases in grocery costs, electricity, and energy prices. The union also demanded greater investments in public administration to guarantee high-quality public services. As a fifth and final point, they argued that negotiations should proceed with transparency and objectivity, highlighting the need for a clear and accountable process in shaping any future reforms. The union’s leadership, headed by Miguel Borra, emphasized that these proposals require a serious and visible response from policymakers to address the ongoing affordability crisis.
In the broader context, the demonstration occurred alongside ongoing discussions involving major economic and labor players in Spain. Some participants noted a climate of intensified dialogue between government representatives and major employers, including a potential bloc of reform talks that would shape how pensions, employment, and public services are managed in the coming years. The union underscored that the priority remains a fair balance between wage growth and the costs associated with living expenses, urging the government to pursue policies that safeguard the purchasing power of workers and the quality of public services. The day’s activities reflected a wider sense of urgency about the state of wages, social welfare, and the overall economic resilience of the country.