Metal Workers Stage Second Strike Day in Vigo
- Metal workers in Pontevedra province marched again in Vigo on May 13, 2026, in the second strike day of a dispute over a new collective agreement. - More than 30,000 workers at about 3,500 companies are covered by the talks, while employers said strike participation on May 13 reached 60%. - Employers called unions to a new bargaining meeting for May 15 in Vigo, after further strike days already announced for May 19-21.
Workers in the metal sector in Spain’s Pontevedra province returned to the streets of Vigo on Wednesday, May 13, in the second day of a strike over a new provincial labor agreement. Thousands joined a march through the city, and unions CIG, CC.OO. and UGT said the stoppage again shut much of the area’s industrial activity. The dispute covers workers in shipyards, auxiliary naval firms, automotive suppliers, plumbing, electrical work and other metal-related trades. Employers’ groups Asime, ATRA and Instaelectra later called unions to a fresh bargaining meeting on Friday, May 15. ### Why are metal workers in Vigo striking again? The conflict centers on the provincial collective agreement for the metal sector in Pontevedra, which unions say has stalled after 13 bargaining meetings. CIG said the unions expanded the strike calendar after concluding that employers had shown “no willingness” to agree to labor improvements or what it called a fair wage increase. (europapress.es) The sector involved is large. La Voz de Galicia and Europa Press reported that the dispute affects roughly 30,000 to 33,000 workers and about 3,500 companies across the province. ### What are unions asking for besides pay? Union officials have framed the dispute as broader than wages. (cig.gal) On May 7, Europa Press quoted CIG’s Xulio Fernández, CC.OO.’s Rodolfo Otero and UGT’s Cristian González calling for “dignity,” better working conditions and stronger recognition of safety risks, especially in shipbuilding. (lavozdegalicia.es) La Voz de Galicia reported that the joint platform includes a shorter agreement term, measures against heat stress in summer, limits on subcontracting in shipyards and opposition to the use of fixed-discontinuous contracts in the sector. The unions have also sought salary increases indexed more closely to inflation and supplements for toxic or dangerous work in exposed trades such as naval construction. (europapress.es) ### What are employers offering? Employers’ groups Asime, ATRA and Instaelectra had offered a 14.5% wage increase over four years in one round of talks, according to La Voz de Galicia. After the talks broke down, the employers reverted to an earlier proposal of 13% over four years, with an inflation-linked wage guarantee capped at 2%, an eight-hour annual reduction in working time to be applied in 2028 and a gradual wage differentiation between grades of skilled workers. (lavozdegalicia.es) Unions rejected that package. CIG said one red line was the four-year duration of the agreement, while employers’ inflation cap would not guarantee recovery of lost purchasing power. ### How large was the latest stoppage? Europa Press reported that thousands again marched through Vigo on May 13, with workers from metal commerce also joining the demonstration. (lavozdegalicia.es) Unions described participation as total, while employers put strike participation at 60% and accused pickets of forcing some closures and blocking access to workplaces. (cig.gal) The first strike day on May 7 had already drawn more than 2,000 demonstrators in Vigo, according to Europa Press. La Voz de Galicia said the second day again paralyzed much of the industry in southern Galicia. ### What did union leaders say on the march? Santiago García of CC.OO. said on May 13 that if the agreement remained blocked, “tension” would increase, according to Europa Press. (europapress.es) Cristian González of UGT described the second strike day as a warning to employers to take the negotiations seriously and reconvene the bargaining table. (europapress.es) Xulio Fernández of CIG said an indefinite strike was not currently on the table, but he said mobilization would continue if employers did not negotiate “in good faith.” After the march, union leaders urged workers to maintain unity and reinforce picket activity on strike days. (europapress.es) ### What happens next? Friday, May 15, is the next scheduled bargaining date. Europa Press reported that the employers’ associations called unions to a new meeting after Wednesday’s strike and before a third stoppage set for Thursday, May 14. The strike calendar already extends beyond this week. (europapress.es) CIG and other reports said unions have announced further stoppages on May 19, 20 and 21 if there is no agreement, dates that coincide with the Navalia shipbuilding fair in Vigo. (cig.gal) (europapress.es)
