Verger, the Alicante municipality, again finds itself center stage as a long‑standing local facility faces a major development milestone. The plant, boasting more than five decades of operation and tied to a recognizable food group, may be nearing a shutdown. Today the site employs around ninety people and has specialized in producing toast bread and other snack items. The potential closure emerged after management informed staff of the decision last week, triggering measured reactions from workers and their representatives. For years, this facility has stood as a regional anchor, weaving its presence into a local economy that once leaned more on processing and tourism than heavy industry.
A formal note from company leadership sets a thirty‑day negotiation window. Within that period, the objective is to secure the best possible outcome for employees while preserving as much plant activity as feasible. The emphasis is on safeguarding employment, maintaining operations where possible, and identifying resources to assist workers through any transition.
Shortly after the news, the workers council held a meeting. A schedule for assemblies was approved, and plans for mobilizations were laid out to deter a hasty shutdown if it proves necessary. In a union statement, employees signaled to the Bimbo management their intent to resist actions that would erode jobs and the local industry. The tone of the gathering underscored a readiness to defend current employment and to pursue feasible alternatives that could keep some form of production alive.
Some participants wondered about the rationale behind the decision attributed to CC OO’s Grupo Bimbo. They noted that roasting line production had already declined and urged the company to clarify the plant’s current status. Management suggested there was no immediate reason to abandon the site and that a calm, carefully planned approach had been communicated to staff. They acknowledged that proceeding with drastic measures would be painful, especially given that another nearby facility was closed in Paracuellos, near Madrid, about a year and a half earlier.
Unity has rejected the strategy proposed by Grupo Bimbo. The union argues that evacuating contents from the Alicante factory does not necessarily spell the end of activity, contending that production could continue at the Verger site if a viable plan is pursued. There is also discussion about aligning any remaining operations with recent policy shifts, such as the opening of a Takis production line at a separate facility in Santa Perpètua, near Barcelona, which could illustrate a path to preserving some manufacturing activity while restructuring.
In the days ahead, the executive committee of the CCOO at Grupo Bimbo plans another round of meetings to analyze the circumstances behind the closure consideration and to outline potential support measures for workers. The discussions are expected to focus on ensuring a fair transition for those affected, including retraining opportunities and placement assistance where feasible. The broader aim is to balance the company’s strategic needs with a commitment to the local workforce and the regional economy that has depended on this plant for decades. With negotiations ongoing, both sides recognize the importance of a transparent process that can yield a constructive outcome for employees, the plant, and the communities involved.