The garbage strike ends with an agreement between workers and the company. Madrid’s garbage collection operators ended their indefinite strike on Sunday, which had begun last Monday evening and thus lasted six days. The labor dispute was resolved thanks to the majority support of the workers’ assembly to reach an agreement between the unions and service providers that would improve wages and working conditions during the working day. The vote and the rejection of the protest marked the culmination of a weekend in which both parties changed their negotiating dynamics: While the first four days were characterized by a consolidation of positions, a rapprochement accelerated during the afternoon on Saturday, resulting in a provisional agreement being reached shortly before midnight. The turning point, according to the worker representatives, was the Madrid City Council’s announcement that it would present an emergency plan for contracting external companies starting Monday in case negotiations stall.
Following the municipal ultimatum and the agreement in principle, more than 1,000 workers gathered at Nave de Villaverde at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday to hear the offer to end the strike negotiated by the unions and the companies. Given the overflowing trash cans and the waste accumulating on the sidewalks throughout the city, the offer sparked jubilation in some quarters and disappointment in others. Ultimately, the company succeeded in convincing the operators, reflected in 819 votes in favor and 247 against. Starting this evening, Madrid will gradually return to normality: the garbage accumulated over the past six days will be removed starting at 9:25 p.m. with the start of the night shift.
The mood at the door of the nave at 11:00 a.m. surprised those present, as well as the union spokespersons: “What a wonderful appeal!” exclaimed the spokesperson for the RSU union, before giving way to the workers in the audience. The justification for the new offer expressed optimism, but also pressure to end the protest before the City Council implemented its emergency plan to clean up the city with external support: “We looked strong enough to continue against the companies. But the City Council’s handicap has occurred, and we don’t feel strong enough against them. If we reject this proposal, the situation could explode before our eyes,” warned the chairman of the assembly, referring to the third meeting held on Saturday by the Delegate for Urban Planning, Environment and Mobility, Borja Carabante, with companies and unions.
Fines, Resignations, and Union Concerns
At this meeting, Carabante reiterated to the companies the amount of the fines they face for failing to comply with minimum service requirements, which were set at €400,000 per day and total €2.4 million. He warned that if no agreement was reached by Sunday morning, a decree declaring a public health emergency would be signed, entrusting other companies with the removal of the garbage accumulated in Madrid. The ultimatum also had a deadline: Monday was to mark the effective disembarkation of the rescue workers, removing the concessionaires and their employees who had declared a strike. This municipal pressure strategy ultimately influenced the workers’ final decision: “They can take away our only instrument of power,” the RSU spokesperson warned his colleagues in the assembly, encouraging them to accept the proposed agreement.
Furthermore, the delegate announced that he would demand the resignation of the strike committee members, as “they have no legitimacy to conduct these negotiations.” Nevertheless, this agreement was ultimately implemented and won over the workers. “In a few hours, we will be back to normal. I thank the people of Madrid for their exemplary behavior these days,” Carabante rejoiced upon hearing the news. Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida shared the celebrations: “I thank the people of Madrid for their understanding and cooperation during these days,” he wrote on his Twitter account.
An agreement to improve wages and social conditions
The contract is valid for six years. This initial news caused regret among those present, as the CCOO, UGT, and RSU unions had initially demanded an agreement with a two-year extension. Nevertheless, improvements were made on most points. Two aspects deserve special mention: the wage increase and the Social conditions. Regarding wages, operators will receive a 1.5% increase in 2025, plus €3 gross per day for night shifts; the increase for night shifts will also be 1.5% in 2026; 2% in 2027; 3% in 2028; and 5% in 2029.
In the social area, improvements were negotiated regarding the regularization of promotions, with the necessary examinations being abolished and replaced with a minimum of three to seven years. Furthermore, the situation of part-time workers will be regulated by increasing working hours by 20% based on previous experience, as well as more free time for night shifts and four additional days of discretionary leave per year until 2029. Furthermore, it is guaranteed that colleagues with 39 years of service will receive a bonus of 80% of their basic salary, previously limited to 70%, and employees with 44 years of service will receive a bonus of 90% plus.
The points were sacrificed “due to pressure from companies.”
After the preliminary agreement was explained, many workers expressed doubts, particularly regarding the original proposals, which were rejected because they “had to give in to negotiating pressure from companies,” as the platform spokesperson explained.
One of these points that had to be sacrificed in the negotiations was the regulation of the conditions of the afternoon shift with greater flexibility and its consideration as a separate shift. Currently, workers on this shift do not have set entry and exit times, which vary depending on the week, as one of the workers waiting for the vote explained. Concessions also had to be made regarding the regularization of permanent part-time contracts, although it was possible to increase working hours by 20%. One worker in the public complained that “it’s as if nothing had been done.”
In response to this dissatisfaction, which spread among those present, the spokespersons emphasized, however, that the current situation is not comparable to that on Tuesday, when the previous agreement was rejected. “Now the city council has come into play. An emergency decree would take away all the mobilization and pressure we have now. It could even lead the companies to back down on some of their current commitments,” warned the MSW. Ultimately, however, the agreement and the wear and tear of these six days of strikes have persuaded the workers, and starting tonight, Madrid will return to its usual cleanliness.
