Labor unions organize partial strikes over inflation and workload pressures
Rising inflation and a shortage of templates have triggered increased tensions in several workplaces. The impact is being felt across the business landscape this autumn. A group associated with real estate and financial services is coordinating actions after being urged to align salaries with price development and to address heavy workloads. The unions say a substantial portion of the workforce has borne the burden of these conditions.
On Friday, two two-hour partial work stoppages will take place from 13:00 to 15:00 and from 20:00 to 22:00. The strikes will affect centers operated by the group in Madrid, Barcelona, Valladolid, Zaragoza, and Alicante. In the capital, about 279 employees are involved, many of them based in Solvia, though the holding also encompasses Intrum Service and Aktua Financial Solutions.
UGT, the company’s union division, stated that the partial stoppages are a direct response to the group’s stance on salary increases. The union argued that rises in the consumer price index require greater recognition and more equitable distribution of profits among workers. The union pointed to the company’s reluctance to share profits as a core grievance.
Beyond salary concerns, unions are pushing for improvements in workload management. They note that computer systems issues have created a scenario where fewer workers must handle more tasks, increasing stress and reducing overall working conditions. The union spokesperson for Grupo Intrum in Alicante described a trend of rising workloads and mounting stress as a result of the contraction in staffing levels.
According to the union, more than 80 employees in the province have left the company this year due to layoffs or voluntary separations related to overload and fatigue. UGT argues that this situation has persisted for some time and has been aggravated by the company’s decision to minimize new hires while contracts were renegotiated or ended with property management obligations. The company name appears repeatedly in discussions surrounding this contract and its renewal, which has included claims about a difficult transition away from a previously held portfolio of clients.
While the loss of this contract with Sareb has reduced workload in some areas, the saved work has not translated into relief for the staff. The overall effort required by remaining workers continues to be substantial, underscoring ongoing tensions between labor and management. A company representative declined to comment on these claims or the pending strikes. The union maintains that constructive dialogue remains essential to prevent further disruption and to restore a stable work environment across its affected sites.