Particle.news

Pontevedra Metal Workers Launch Strike in Vigo Over Contract Standoff

The dispute centers on unions' demand for a 16% raise over four years.

Overview

  • Workers in the province’s metal industry began a strike Thursday, with early pickets at worksites and a 9 a.m. march from the Armón shipyard in Vigo.
  • Unions UGT, CC. OO. and CIG called roughly 30,000 to 33,000 employees from about 3,500 companies to join the stoppage.
  • Union leaders set red lines that include a 16% pay rise across four years, two summer months of continuous shifts to reduce heat stress, reclassification of first‑category officers to group 4, and hazard and toxicity pay in shipbuilding.
  • Employer groups Asime, Atra and Instaelectra said unions rejected a pre‑agreement with a 14.5% raise and asked government officials and police to guarantee the right to work during the strike.
  • Unions scheduled further walkouts for May 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21, which would coincide with the Navalia shipbuilding fair in Vigo from May 19 to 21 and could disrupt a major industry event.