Algeciras port pilots vote to strike amid Operation Crossing the Strait

Ya Biladi

02-07-2025

The Corporation of Maritime Pilots at the Port of Algeciras has voted to go on strike, with 34 out of 47 members present supporting the move. Four voted against it, while nine abstained. Although no date has been announced, the strike is expected to take place during the high-traffic Operation Crossing the Strait (OPE), which began in Spain on June 15. According to El Estrecho Digital, the strike follows failed negotiations with the fleet department after seven months of conflict over equipment and staffing shortages.
The outlet describes the current moment as a «particularly sensitive period, marked by deep disagreements over the availability of material and human resources». The union accuses management of adopting an «intransigent and hostile attitude toward workers, blocking any path to agreement».
Joaquín Millán, a workers' representative quoted by local media, warned that the decision to strike during OPE could «have a direct impact on port operations in the coming days». «This is a critical period for maritime traffic in southern Spain», he said, referring to the surge in passenger and cargo movement between Europe and North Africa, which coincides with Operation Marhaba on the Moroccan side.
Maritime workers in Algeciras say efforts to resolve the conflict through dialogue have made little headway. They claim that management's approach has fostered «a climate of confrontation, deepening internal divisions and failing to recognize the vital role pilots play in ensuring port safety».
While the specific dates and details of the strike have not yet been finalized, the union is expected to announce its mobilization schedule this Thursday. Large-scale action has not been ruled out, but union leaders stressed that «the situation could still be resolved if management demonstrates a genuine willingness to negotiate».