Labor Strike of Madrid Forest Firefighters Escalates Amidst Stalled Negotiations

The labor conflict surrounding the forest firefighters of the Community of Madrid remains unresolved, as revealed in a recent meeting between the works council and representatives from the regional government and Tragsa, the public company managing the firefighters. After over three hours of discussions, the works council announced the continuation of an indefinite strike that began weeks ago, following what they deemed as an entirely inadequate meeting. The works council, consisting of unions Firet, UGT, and CGT, called out the stagnation of negotiations by Tragsa and demanded intervention from the central government. 'We request the Minister of Finance to grant those permissions,' they stated after the tripartite meeting held at Tragsa's facilities in Leganés. Disappointment was evident among union leaders, with Julio Chana, the secretary of the Works Council and member of the Strike Committee, expressing frustration over Tragsa's lack of progress. 'It was totally insufficient,' he asserted, acknowledging some willingness for dialogue from the regional Executive but labeling Tragsa's stance as negative. Javier Villanueva, a delegate of the independent union Firet, confirmed that the sentiments were shared across the board, noting that Tragsa has made very little movement in this dispute. Chana highlighted that Tragsa refuses to negotiate a new collective agreement or to enhance working conditions, citing economic losses as a reason. However, he noted that the reality contradicts these claims, as Tragsa has reported profits of over 80 million euros in 2024 and another 40 million euros in 2023. The Community of Madrid proposed a salary increase linked to the new state law on Forest Firefighters, but the committee deemed it inadequate. Villanueva pointed out that while the Community was the only party to make some movement towards resolving differences, their proposal to adhere to the state agreement signed by Tragsa was rejected, as it did not address their specific needs. Furthermore, Villanueva criticized Tragsa's approach, stating that the company has chosen not to negotiate a company agreement and will only follow directives from the Community beginning January, as the current one expires in December. 'They are hiding behind the need to ask for permission from Finance,' he accused, stating there is no legal barrier to negotiating improvements. In a contrasting message, Tragsa characterized its stance as conciliatory, claiming they would comply with the new directives from the Community of Madrid and would seek the necessary authorizations to implement the agreed-upon conditions. They also expressed gratitude to the regional government for their trust in managing the fire prevention and extinguishing system. The Community of Madrid confirmed plans to renew Tragsa's assignment, which will commence in 2016, including a budget increase of four million euros, bringing it to 32 million euros annually. Notably, they plan to enhance job security by consolidating over 425 personnel throughout the year, eliminating temporary employment. However, the proposed salary increase of approximately 10% falls short, amounting to less than 200 euros a month according to Villanueva. He emphasized that the regional government intends to introduce a second activity to prevent the dismissal of injured workers—a move that was long overdue. With no agreement reached post-meeting, Villanueva insisted that the strike would continue, with plans to amplify public pressure. 'This is unsustainable, and the increase is entirely insufficient. We are deeply disappointed with Tragsa due to their total immobility,' he stated, expressing the unions' commitment to continuing their fight for better working conditions. As Chana succinctly put it, 'Tragsa leaves us no option but to continue in the streets.' The resolve of the firefighters signals a critical moment in labor relations within the Community of Madrid, highlighting the ongoing struggle for fair treatment and compensation in the public sector. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2