The suspension of maintenance contracts for Leopard combat vehicles and SIAC howitzers has led the works council of Santa Bárbara Sistemas to propose a strike for June 30th. This proposal will be put to a vote among the staff, as reported by this outlet. The consultation is scheduled for this Friday, June 26th, amidst ongoing staff adjustments by the company and concerns about substantial job reductions at the Seville factory.
Worker representatives believe that the lack of progress from the Ministry of Defence jeopardizes both employment and the industrial future of the plant, a key center for the defense industry in Andalusia. Uncertainty has persisted for months due to the blockage of several programs deemed essential for maintaining the factory's operations.
Staff anxiety has heightened due to the tangible consequences of the reduced workload. Management informed the works council of the departure of twelve temporary contract workers and warned that the adjustment could extend to another 20 individuals during June. Projections suggest that further cuts could affect approximately 70 more people in the second half of the year, potentially leading to the loss of about a third of current jobs.
In response to this situation, CCOO has announced its support for the initiatives promoted by the Seville works council and will participate in necessary mobilizations to demand accountability and defend the company's workload.
The strike proposal coincides with a public criticism from CCOO regarding the suspension of programs and delays in initiating others by the Ministry of Defence. The union warns that this situation could impact the job stability of the company, which it argues is being sidelined despite being Spain's sole company with experience in armored vehicles and maintaining its fiscal headquarters and over a thousand employees in the country.
CCOO also raises concerns about the situation at the Trubia factory in Asturias, denouncing the cancellation of the tube program and the postponement of the VAC program until September. The organization seeks explanations from the Ministry of Defence regarding the reasons for these delays, which could stem from negotiation strategies or other circumstances, but emphasizes that the repercussions fall directly on the workers.
