Metal industry strike paralyzes Escombreras Valley in Murcia

An indefinite strike in the metal industry sector of the Murcia region has begun following the collapse of collective bargaining negotiations. The industrial action, led by unions UGT FICA, CCOO Industria, and USO Industria, affects approximately 35,000 workers and 8,000 companies, including chemical industries, industrial assembly, and maintenance services. Companies supporting Navantia Cartagena have also joined the strike.

The conflict stems from the employer association FREMM’s refusal to remove “compensable and absorbable” clauses regarding salary bonuses. Unions argue these clauses allow companies to neutralize wage increases by offsetting them with existing payments, failing to provide real purchasing power amid inflation. Disagreements also persist regarding industrial bonuses and temporary disability supplements.

Protests have escalated in Cartagena, with workers blocking access roads to the Repsol refinery and setting up barricades using stones and road debris. On the second day of the strike, tensions rose between protesters and the National Police near the Navantia shipyard. Two individuals were arrested for allegedly assaulting officers after demonstrators blocked a fire truck from accessing the area.