Road closures to improve the agreement: Barcelona's metal sector comes to a standstill
Workers are supporting the strike call at factories in the region such as Ebro or Ficosa
BarcelonaMetalworkers in the Barcelona area blocked several major access roads to the city on Wednesday morning, including the ring roads, causing long traffic jams. They were protesting the breakdown of negotiations with employers regarding a new collective bargaining agreement. Two of the most significant blockades were on the Barcelona ring roads: the C-32 at its junction with the Ronda de Dalt and the Ronda Litoral near Mercabarna. Workers also blocked access to industrial parks in the Baix Llobregat and Vallès Oriental and Occidental regions, and there were disruptions on the C-55 in Manresa and the BV-4511 in Santpedor. "The strike has been a success. The largest companies and industrial parks have come to a standstill," union sources told ARA. The protest has been observed at plants such as the Ebro automotive plant in the Zona Franca industrial park and the Ficosa plant in Viladecavalls, and sources indicate that it has also been felt at the Seat facilities in Martorell. The strike is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Metalworkers—nearly 200,000 employees are expected to participate—also protested this morning in front of the Foment de Treball headquarters on Via Laietana in Barcelona, to pressure for improvements to their collective bargaining agreement.
Wages in accordance with the CPI
One of the main points of contention between unions and employers in reaching an agreement is wages. Employers—through the Metalworkers' Union (UPM)—are proposing a 3% wage increase this year, 2.75% in 2026, and 2.5% in 2027. In contrast, workers' representatives believe the increases should be 3.9% this year, followed by 3% in 2027. "Their proposals, focused on compensation and wage absorption, cut acquired rights and block necessary improvements for all workers in the sector," says the UGT union. Beyond ensuring that wages are linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the unions also want to prevent the elimination of paid leave and the denial of reduced working hours to some employees. "This attitude is unacceptable, especially in a context of strong business results," they argue. UPM maintains that its latest proposal is "balanced" and should have been enough to call off this week's strike.
