Across several provinces, thousands of court officers, tribunals, and civil servants stood in solidarity in Alicante and beyond, gathering in Madrid to voice their demands this Thursday after more than a month of mobilization. They called for government negotiation on a framework that would address salary increases, organizational efficiency, and a refreshed catalog of responsibilities for each civil service body. The protests reflect a shared conviction that active dialogue is essential to move the system toward greater effectiveness and fairness for those serving the public.
The unions involved—STAJ, UGT, CSIF, and CC OO—are pressing for an agreement on terms similar to those already secured for forensic lawyers, judges, and prosecutors. They argue that the government has not yet engaged in formal talks to resolve the dispute, and they urge a direct sit-down to craft a concrete settlement that acknowledges the contributions and needs of justice sector workers.
The demonstrations began at the Justice Ministry and proceeded on a roughly mile-and-a-half march to reach the Office of the Minister of State for Public Administration. Workers from the justice system demanded intervention from both ministries to end the ongoing, indefinite strike and to lay out a path to resolution that satisfies the workforce and the wider public.
Chants at the Madrid protest captured the mood: “What exists for some, exists for all,” “We are not inferior, we are workers,” and “Llop, resign or step aside” echoed through the crowd as officers and supporters gathered in a show of unity.
2,000 Officials Under Scrutiny
After previously staged partial strikes and targeted stoppages, the overall strike has shown some volatility since last Monday, with irregular participation patterns. According to union sources monitoring the situation, about 65% of the roughly 2,000 officials in the province remain engaged in the indefinite strike. Alicante courts, while affected, are experiencing less disruption than other sites such as Orihuela, where the level of engagement has been higher, resulting in more pending cases and suspended prosecutions.
Luis Calero of CC OO urged immediate government response, saying, “The minister of justice, Pilar Llop, and the government must step up, engage in negotiations now.” Yet sources close to the ministry indicated that there were no plans to rally the unions in the present week, even as regional administrations with delegated justice powers are expected to participate in any eventual negotiations.
In contrast, Tontxu Rodríguez, the Minister of State for Justice, met with officials in the Region of Murcia and signaled that talks with the unions would resume next week to address their stated demands. The unions reiterated that the indefinite strike would continue and that their resolve would grow stronger as frustration mounts.
Legal Profession Intensifies the Demand
Following actions by forensic lawyers, civil servants, judges, and prosecutors, the bar association in Alicante organized a meeting at the Palace of Justice Square at 13:00 on Friday to address what participants described as a chaotic state of a justice administration that fails to show citizens and professionals due respect. The legal profession highlighted demands for improved working conditions, balanced workloads, and better work-life balance, including more flexible schedules and digital connectivity that supports professional duties and personal responsibilities.