Following 16 meetings with no significant progress, unions have decided to take action. The main point of contention is the employers' proposal for a five-year agreement, which unions deem excessive. Furthermore, they argue that the offered wage increases fail to meet the workers' real needs and lack any link to the CPI.
Gender pay gaps and precarious working conditions are central to the dispute. In a sector employing approximately one thousand people in Bizkaia, with a high proportion of female workers, the measures proposed to address wage inequality are viewed as inadequate. Union representatives criticize the slow pace at which the employers' plan would close the existing pay gap.
“"The wage increases offered by the employers are far from covering the real needs of the workers."
The strike, supported by CCOO, ELA, LAB, and UGT, saw massive participation across key companies in the region. To facilitate attendance, buses were organized from towns such as Bermeo and Ondarroa. Both parties are scheduled to meet again on June 4th in hopes of resolving the impasse.
