Metalworkers in the Barcelona area again blocked several roads this morning in protest against the breakdown of negotiations with employers regarding a new collective agreement. The C-25 highway between Sant Fruitós de Bages and Sallent is closed due to a demonstration in both directions, causing a kilometer-long traffic jam, according to the Catalan Traffic Service (SCT). There were also blockades due to protests on the Cornellà and Hospitalet de Llobregat exits of the C-32 highway in both directions, and on exit 18B of the Ronda Litoral ring road in Marbarna, heading towards Besòs. This is the second consecutive morning that the metal sector has organized blockades as part of the two-day strike called in response to the conflict with employers. On Wednesday, workers already blocked some of the main access routes to Barcelona, ​​such as the ring roads, causing long traffic jams. They also blocked access to industrial parks in the Baix Llobregat and Vallès Oriental and Occidental regions. "The strike has been a success. The largest companies and industrial parks have been paralyzed," union sources explained to ARA. The protest was also observed on Monday at plants such as the Ebro automotive plant in the Zona Franca and the Ficosa plant in Viladecavalls, and the same sources confirmed that it was also noticeable at the Seat facilities in Martorell. Workers in the metal sector—nearly 200,000 employees were called to participate in the strike—also protested 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.

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The Catalan multinational Ficosa, headquartered in Viladecavalls and primarily dedicated to the manufacture of vision and detection components for automobiles, announced this Friday a collaboration agreement with Indra, the Spanish defense giant whose main shareholder is the State. This is a declaration of intent to collaborate—and, therefore, a possible preliminary step to a formal contract—focused on the Catalan company's electro-optical vision and surveillance systems for VCR 8x8 Dragón and VAC armored military vehicles.

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Josep Maria Pujol Artigas (Rubí, 1934) is a historic figure in the automotive industry, a sector in Europe experiencing one of its worst periods in decades, threatened by technological change and the onslaught of Chinese manufacturers. Coming from a conservative family and a poor student, Pujol found his place when he opened a car wiring workshop at just 14 years old, thanks to the help of his father. Today, that small workshop is Ficosa. In this interview, we review Pujol's personal history, which took him from failing to finish school to building what is now a group that manufactures automotive components and has a turnover of nearly €1.4 billion. We also assess the future of the automotive sector, the backbone of European industry and currently threatened by China. Throughout the interview, Pujol constantly holds a pipe, an object that has been with him for seven decades.

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