Overview

• The metal sector in Cádiz, which employs over 14,000 people, saw workers launch a 48-hour strike starting June 18 that halted operations and blocked key access routes.
• Barricades of burning tires on the CA-36 and CA-35 forced closure of the two main bridges into the city and suspended Cercanías train services to Sevilla.
• Police mounted a large security deployment and arrested six demonstrators, including one minor, after protesters threw bottles and set fire to containers.
• UGT, CCOO and CTM unions rejected Femca’s proposed pay rises of 3% in 2024 and 2.8% in 2025, demanding an end to a two-tier wage scale and better rules for temporary staff.
• Femca insists full inflation indexation is unaffordable for small firms and has offered a 10% cumulative increase through 2027 with Sercla-mediated talks resuming on June 20.