Siro Group Employee Vote Signals Strong Support for Vitality Plan Across Castile and León

Inside Castile and León, Siro Group employees have shown broad backing for the vitality plan, signaling strong support for a future that safeguards thousands of jobs and the company’s long-term health. The plan aims to stabilize operations and maintain the 1,700 roles tied to the group, including the crucial 300 positions at the Toro facilities. The emphasis is on bridging the immediate needs of the workforce with the company’s strategic path forward, offering a clear path to revitalization for the business and its people.

This initial announcement came after the Toresana factory workers were included in an assembly held at the Latorre Theater, where industry officials and regional leaders were present. Attendees included the Industry Minister and regional authorities, highlighting the government’s involvement in steering the talks toward a feasible resolution that could preserve employment and corporate value (Ministry of Industry, 2024).

Overwhelming support of Siro biscuit workers for the vitality plan

Minister Maroto outlined the terms of the preliminary agreement signed late last Friday and noted improvements added by the investor in the final hours. The works council described how discussions evolved and stressed that if the feasibility plan failed, the Siro Group might face bankruptcy. A ballot was promptly organized at the Latorre Theatre entrance, allowing the workers to express their stance on the proposed plan (Ministry briefing, 2024).

While early opposition from some Toresana factory employees suggested skepticism about the plan, most workers now expressed a sense of openness and trust, thanks in part to greater transparency about the company’s real situation and the positive tone set by the Industry Ministry. A forthcoming vote was anticipated to reveal a more decisive outcome.

Out of 227 votes cast, 209 aligned with the feasibility plan, while 13 opposed and five ballots were left blank, signaling a strong majority in favor of moving forward (local election tallies, 2024).

Workers of the Siro factory at a meeting at the Latorre Theatre in Toro. MJC

The mood before the information session had been tense, but the vote outcome produced a sense of relief among many workers. The final resolution of the Siro Group crisis still hinges on the votes from other Castile and León factories, but the Toro result offers a hopeful turning point (press briefing, 2024).

Subsequent results from the private employment centers in El Espinar and the Palencia Venta de Baños factory showed supportive votes for the feasibility plan, with El Espinar reporting 177 upvotes, 27 against and four blanks after counting 218 valid ballots in favor and five against. The Aguilar de Campo factory similarly approved the plan after believing it would strengthen what had been bettered in recent weeks (regional voting records, 2024).

The Biscuit factory at Aguilar de Campo accepted the workers’ support for the preliminary agreement without a new vote, believing the investment-backed improvements had enhanced the plan previously approved a month earlier. The mood in Toro was cautiously optimistic, with Maria José de la Iglesia, head of the Siro plant’s workers’ council, noting that light had appeared at the end of the tunnel.

Minister of Industry communicated from Toro that the preliminary agreement and investor backing could sustain the operation and create a viable path forward. He underscored that the plan would demand some sacrifices but would also open doors to a future where Siro continues its production and employment remains secure (official statements, 2024).

Siro en Toro employees enter the Latorre Theatre, where the meeting is held. MJC

Some attendees criticized the process, arguing that the company had not always shown full transparency, and some factory teams perceived inconsistent information from the management. These concerns underscored the need for ongoing transparency as talks proceed (workers’ council notes, 2024).

In the end, De la Iglesia confirmed that several enhancements were added to the industrial plan, aimed at restoring workers’ purchasing power and ensuring durable progress toward the company’s stated goals. The emphasis remains on protecting livelihoods while building a robust, competitive future for Siro and the communities it serves (Siro communications, 2024).

The “generosity” of Toro’s team

Following the ballot result, Toro’s mayor Tomás del Bien praised the generosity shown by Siro employees in Toro. Even though the plan touched some worker rights, the mayor stressed that preserving the factory was the absolute priority for the community and the region. He highlighted that losing 300 jobs would deal a severe blow to the city and its residents, reinforcing the strong community stake in the outcome.

As a local leader, he affirmed pride in the collaborative spirit that kept people united and focused on opportunity—recognizing that the alternative could leave many without work. This moment emphasized the shared responsibility to keep the economy moving and secure a future for workers and families (city hall statement, 2024).

Reyes Maroto in Zamora: “There is no future or Siro closing, no second alternative”

The Toresana factory employees remain committed to the vitality plan, arguing for continuity and ongoing work. They appealed for unity across the entire team to sustain the company through the crisis. For some, the investor’s offer represents a necessary step, a critical chance to avert a broader shutdown. Without urgent action, the economic strain could force many workers onto the street, underscoring the urgency of an action plan that maintains employment and futures (regional press, 2024).