The major associations of the meat industry have expressed their frustration at the unions' refusal to sign the sector's new collective bargaining agreement, which included significant improvements such as a 3% salary increase for 2024 and another 3% for 2025, as well as a reduction in working hours. This disagreement arises after both sides managed to avoid a strike on November 22 of last year, signing a pre-agreement that seemed to have satisfied both employers and workers. However, according to industry sources, the unions have adopted an 'absolutely uncompromising and uncooperative' stance during the recent negotiations, hindering what seemed to be a significant advance for more than 110,000 workers in the sector.
The meat industry, which accounts for 2.72% of Spain's GDP and is an important economic engine, especially in rural areas, seeks mechanisms to fulfill its wage obligations despite the union blockade. With a revenue of 33,218 million euros and exports valued at 10,583 million euros in 2023, the sector is crucial for addressing challenges such as rural depopulation. The associations have noted that the current situation could bring the negotiations back to square one, which creates a scenario of uncertainty regarding the future of the wage agreement. Meanwhile, Spain remains at the forefront in Europe for pork production, highlighting its importance not only nationally but also internationally.
Read the full news article on OK Diario.
