Manchasol solar plant workers protest labor rights

Workers at the Manchasol concentrated solar plant in Alcázar de San Juan, Ciudad Real, held a protest to demand that the owner, Solclef, respect established labor rights and negotiate equally with the entire workforce.

The tension follows the transition of plant management from Cobra to Solclef, a company under the Canadian investment fund Brookfield. According to the Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) union, a discrepancy has emerged between new hires and subrogated workers. Specifically, employees claim that while new staff receive certain social benefits, subrogated workers do not.

Key points of contention include the company's attempt to replace a recognized distance allowance with a bus service, as well as unresolved demands regarding toxicity allowances and pay for Sundays and holidays. Union representatives stated they will not accept cuts to distance bonuses, on-call duties, or standby pay, calling on management to engage in meaningful negotiations.