Employees at the Alicante-based emergency response and firefighting contractor Babcock MSC Spain are signaling potential demonstrations as talks over a wage update stall. In a joint statement, the unions Asetma, STLA, and CC OO describe a deteriorating situation inside the company, recalling a 2019 episode when the board attempted to implement a 13-30% salary reduction under a special tolling arrangement. The message from the unions is clear: without a formal agreement on compensation and benefits, rising tensions are likely to continue and intensify in the months ahead.
According to the unions, several critical issues remain unresolved, and there appears to be little willingness from the company’s leadership to address them in the near term. They complain that for years there has been no proactive push to negotiate a new agreement after the prior arrangement was terminated in 2018. They also mention receiving a formal complaint that required scheduling meetings at SIMA, yet no concrete negotiation date has emerged and positions remain far apart, with no clear path to a deal.
The centers emphasize that the stance taken by management and the delays in negotiations are worsened by the current inflation environment and the erosion of workers’ social rights. Key topics lacking progress include how the company will handle the inflation-linked adjustment (CPI), the structure of working hours, and remote work policies. Since the deal began in 2015, estimates indicate around a 13% loss in purchasing power for employees, a figure that could grow as inflation persists. If trends continue, analysts warn the cumulative hit could reach a notable level by year-end, underscoring the urgency of an agreed update. The overall estimated loss has reached about 20% when considering broader impacts over time.
Meanwhile, concerns over the broader financial and job security landscape accumulate. Unions remain uncertain about the status of workers the day before and after important talks. The disclosure coming from Babcock Spain, coupled with gaps in internal communication, fuels an atmosphere of distrust toward any position the board may announce. The works council has stressed that the current negotiation deadlock is unacceptable and has demanded an urgent salary update as part of any new agreement. The company, however, has resisted reopening negotiations and effectively shut down that pathway.
The situation for staff and the works council has grown so strained that a number of problems tied to interpreting and applying the existing contract have sparked complaints and lawsuits. As unions caution, the present pattern is unsustainable. They warn that the failure to reach a timely settlement will likely force workers to resort to mobilizations to defend their pay and benefits, asserting that patience is exhausted and a robust response is needed to protect living standards and job security. In this context, the parties acknowledge that the crisis could escalate if no constructive process is restored, with potential consequences for operations and worker morale. [Citation: Asetma, STLA, CC OO unions]