The Justice Administration and LAJ lawyers have spent a fourth week on strike, halting court activity across several Spanish jurisdictions. After tense negotiations, the two sides reached a deal, yet the LAJ stance remains firm, and the central government faces ongoing morale challenges. In Alicante, the strike has translated into the suspension of more than five thousand cases, dramatically reshaping the weekly docket.
The delayed proceedings have placed the judiciary under mounting strain. The disruption echoes a health crisis in its impact, resembling the way procedural deadlines can be paused during emergencies. This marks the longest labor action within the justice sector in recent memory, a level of mobilization rarely seen in an industry accustomed to limited stoppages.
On January 24, the LAJ announced an indefinite strike aimed at securing fair remuneration from the Ministry of Justice for duties taken on since 2009 through successive procedural reforms. In Alicante, the strike has averaged roughly 1,150 suspended procedural transactions per week, with around 400 of these tied to commercial matters. Palace of Justice officials describe the issue as highly sensitive, noting that many parties affected are individuals facing complex employment situations.
Across the Alicante province, the weekly follow-up rate hovered around 77 percent as of Friday, based on a staff of 171 professionals. The strike sends a clear message: if the LAJ stops work, the courts risk grinding to a halt in turn, preserving a fragile balance between public access to justice and the unions’ demands.
Judicial sources warn that currently suspended matters, except those deemed urgent, will likely remain unresolved for at least another year. They caution that restarting the system after a long stoppage will be difficult and slow to pick up speed again. The sentiment from strike committee members aligns with a broader sense of unease about how long delays can persist and the challenge of restoring smooth operation once a pause begins.
Courts have limited activity to urgent matters only, excluding non-urgent cases that risk irreparable harm if delayed. Detainees and minors stay prioritized, while cases that have expired may still trigger serious consequences if not resolved. Since the strike began, a number of lawsuits have already been filed, including a popular jury case involving crimes in La Vila and El Campello. In some situations, defendants were already in custody, reducing the likelihood of case suspensions; however, the jury process for the high-profile Sala case faced renewed scrutiny when the widow of the former CAM president and her son-in-law were implicated in a murder allegation.
Conflict and complaints
The strike has sparked numerous complaints at the Palace of Justice from citizens and legal professionals whose trials were suspended without advance notice. Both the Bar Association and the Prosecutors have urged proactive communication to minimize relocations. The LAJ has been urged to provide timely notifications, yet the situation remains unsettled. Judicial sources indicate the decision to support or withhold strike action is made at the start of each day, contributing to a sense of unpredictability. A related tension arose when someone affected by a suspension requested a certification of the action and learned that LAJ could not issue it because they were on strike.
The conflict drew the attention of the Justice Minister, Gabriela Bravo, who intervened as the same week unfolded. She pressed ministry officials who had refused to meet with the strike committee for more than a month, acknowledging that all suspensions would eventually impact workers. Administrative responsibilities in justice were partly reallocated to the Valencian Community, yet judges, prosecutors, and court affairs remain under the Ministry of Justice’s remit. Bravo noted she would pursue engagement within fifteen days, despite lacking direct authority in the matter. This development has sharpened the duel between the Ministry and the strike movement, set against ongoing debates over reform measures such as the yes is yes law and the embezzlement and sedition reforms. As with past health crises, officials anticipate a weekly contingency plan to keep courts functioning and to mitigate the effects of ongoing stoppages. The strike committee accuses the Ministry of Justice of refusing to negotiate in good faith and failing to address core concerns about pay and duties in a rapidly changing procedural landscape. [Source attribution: Palace of Justice reports]