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The Irish Sun
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
‘Several days of strikes' at Irish fave Spain tourist destination as thousands of workers threaten fresh holiday blow
IRISH holiday makers have been warned "several days" of fresh strike action on the Canary Islands could ruin holiday plans. It comes amid new walk out plans by hospitality workers as part of an ongoing 4 Between anti-tourism action and hotel strikes, the Canary Islands has seen constant demonstrations Credit: Almay 4 New action could see weekly protests Credit: Alamy 4 Hotel workers are not impressed by hotel bosses' offerings Credit: Alamy Spanish hotel chiefs have offered workers whopping wage rises - but got the knock-back from unions who are threatening further strikes this summer. Union bosses in the Balearic Islands are promising 'several days of strikes' in July and worker demos from the end of this month unless their pay demands are met. And in Tenerife and three of the other Overnight the possibility of walkouts in both popular holiday destinations moved a step closer as employers upped their pay offers but got short shrift from union chiefs who labelled the proposed rises 'crumbs.' READ MORE IN TRAVEL Balearic Islands' hotel chiefs increased a wage rise proposal that was already on the table to 9.5 per cent over three years - but were warned to expect a 'no' from worker representatives set to demand more than double that at a key meeting this afternoon. UGT union spokesman Jose Garcia Relucio described the offer ahead of the meeting as 'more crumbs' and claimed hotel bosses wanted their workers to survive on tips. Referencing a demo five days ago by around 300 union members outside the Palma HQ of the Majorca Hotel Federation, he told local press: 'It sounds like hotel owners are clueless about what happened last Friday.' Further south, the likelihood of strike action this summer also looks more likely after hotel association Ashotel's offer of a 13.5 per cent pay rise over three years received a lukewarm response from unions. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN Ashotel revealed its new wage rise proposals late yesterday, saying they would affect more than 33,000 workers in Tenerife and the islands of La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. Thousands of anti-tourist protesters flood Spanish hols hotspots & call on mob to super glue holiday rental locks It said in a statement: 'This increase is broken down as follows: seven per cent in the first year from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, 3.25 per cent from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, and the remaining 3.25 per cent from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2028.' A spokesman for the hotel association added, describing a previous Easter hotel strike in the area as 'unfair': They said: 'Ashotel has always been open to negotiate, even with a collective agreement in force until 2026 and with a strike held at Easter, which it considers was unfair. 'But these negotiations must take place within the framework of the collective bargaining table, which is the body with which the business and trade union parties have been legally equipped to reach agreements. 'The proposal put forward by the hotel employers' association focuses on wage increases, given the specific interest of the trade unions. 'Ashotel has never refused a wage increase, as shown by the increases year after year, even in the tough EXCACT TIMEFRAME Union sources responded by claiming the Ashotel proposal had 'small print' and would lead to the loss of working rights. Union members are set to vote on possible strike action next Monday in Tenerife and the western Canary Islands. If they end up going ahead, the first strike would take place on July 4 before a repeat of industrial action every Friday thereafter for the rest of that month and August. Unions are also expected to launch protests outside the doors of hotels. 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH' Just last month some 23,000 Crowds held banners with messages such as :"Mass tourism is killing our economy and culture". Similar movements have been seen across Spain with protestors blocking tour buses and blocking access to popular landmarks. Demonstrators were heard shouting "Canarias No Se Vende", meaning "The Canary Islands Are Not For Sale," and "Enough is Enough" as they proudly held Canary Island flags in the sky during the protest. Some banners called for a stop to excessive tourism whilst others said: "There's not enough beds for so many foreigners." Activists were also heard blowing whistles, banging on drums and blowing through huge shells to make a loud horn-like noise. 'STAY CLEAR' OF PROTESTS IRISH tourists should make sure to stay up to date with their hotel details and pay attention to local developments The Department of Foreign Affairs do detail some general advice for They state: "Public gatherings and demonstrations can at times take place with little or no warning. "We recommend that you stay clear of demonstrations and follow the advice of the local authorities. "Protests may cause disruption to transport and other services. Be prepared to adjust your travel plans at short notice if necessary, and allow yourself extra time for your journey. "You should also check for travel updates or transport delays before and during your trip to Spain." And the New action promised for July is just the Workers staged a disruptive action during the busy Easter period in April. Action took place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife over April 17 and 18. The strikes followed the rejection of a proposal from the employers' associations. These included a six per cent pay increase, implementation of adjustable beds, and the establishment of a negotiation table before the end of the month to address other concerns. The strikes have involved approximately 80,000 hotel industry employees in Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. 4 Mainland Spain has seen similar disruption Credit: Alamy
Daily Mirror
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Brits face summer of rolling chaos on 12 Spanish holiday islands
British holidaymakers face potential strike action in popular tourist destinations this summer as unions threaten a number of walkouts due to a row over wages Holidaymakers face disruption on 12 Spanish holiday islands this summer as workers threaten to hold a series of strikes. Spanish hotel bosses have proposed substantial wage increases for their staff, but unions have rejected the offer, threatening disruptive strikes this summer that could impact thousands of British holidaymakers. Union leaders in the Balearic Islands are vowing "several days of strikes" in July and worker protests from the end of this month unless their pay demands are met. Meanwhile, in Tenerife and three other Canary Islands, British tourists have been warned to brace themselves for potential chaos this summer if hotel workers follow through with their threat to strike every Friday during July and August. The likelihood of walkouts in both popular holiday destinations has increased as employers raised their pay offers, only to be dismissed by union leaders who labelled the proposed rises as "crumbs." The Canary Islands are made up of eight main islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, and La Graciosa. The Balearic Islands number 151 in total, but the big four workers will likely target with strikes are Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. At the same time as works threaten to strike over industrial disputes, overtourism protesters are planning to hit the streets in holiday hotspots across Spain. Grassroots union members staged protests outside two hotels in southern Tenerife on Tuesday to protest against the Ashotel employers' association's "blocking" of a 6.5% wage increase before the negotiation of a new hospitality agreement. Hotel chiefs in the Balearic Islands upped a wage rise proposal already on the table to 9.5 per cent over three years - but were warned to expect a 'no' from worker representatives set to demand more than double that at a crucial meeting this afternoon. UGT union spokesman Jose Garcia Relucio described the offer ahead of the meeting as "more crumbs" and claimed hotel bosses wanted their workers to survive on tips. READ MORE: Little-known airport rule could see Brits slapped with £1,000 fine Further south, the prospect of strike action this summer seems more likely after a lukewarm response from unions to a proposed 13.5 per cent pay rise over three years by hotel association Ashotel. Late yesterday, Ashotel unveiled its new wage increase proposals, which would impact over 33,000 workers in Tenerife and the islands of La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. The statement read: "This increase is broken down as follows: seven per cent in the first year from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, 3.25 per cent from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, and the remaining 3.25 per cent from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2028." A representative for the hotel association added, describing a previous Easter hotel strike in the area as "unfair": "Ashotel has always been open to negotiate, even with a collective agreement in force until 2026 and with a strike held at Easter, which it considers was unfair." Union members are scheduled to vote on potential strike action next Monday in Tenerife and the western Canary Islands. If they proceed, the first strike is slated for July 4, followed by further industrial action every Friday for the remainder of July and August. Unions are also planning to stage protests outside hotel entrances. During the last strike in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, union representatives highlighted that the tourism subsector depends on an increasingly precarious workforce, with exhausting workdays, insufficient wages for a decent living, and conditions that directly impact the physical and mental health of workers. "They talk a lot about tourism excellence, about how we are a leading destination, but they don't talk about the conditions endured by the workers who keep this sector alive. It's over; it's time to recognise and value the role we play, and that must be reflected in a fair agreement," stated José Tomás Ramos, a member of the negotiating table for the Provincial Hospitality Collective Agreement in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for the UGT (Union of Workers' Unions).
Daily Mirror
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Spain tourist hotspot faces summer of 'changeover day' travel chaos
Hotel staff across Tenerife and the western Canary Islands will walk out every Friday in July and August amid growing tensions between unions and hoteliers Hotel staff across Tenerife and the western Canary Islands are preparing for a series of strikes this summer, with plans for weekly walkouts every Friday in July and August amid escalating tensions between unions and hoteliers. The action could wreak havoc in a destination favoured by Brits - and it will be particularly disruptive as Friday is typically a changeover day for travellers. Sindicalistas de Base, the leading union in the hospitality sector, announced on Monday that it plans to formally propose strike action at a union committee meeting scheduled for 16th June. The proposed action includes protests outside major chain hotels and a series of strikes starting from Friday 4th July, according to the Canarian. This potential industrial action comes just months after similar strikes over the Easter period caused disruptions in the tourism industry, highlighting ongoing grievances about pay and working conditions in one of the Canary Islands' key economic sectors. Union leader Manuel Fitas pointed out that on 29th May, the union issued a 15-day ultimatum to hotel associations Ashotel and Aero to agree to a 6.5% pay rise before entering any new contract discussions, a deadline which is now fast approaching. Fitas slammed the employers' inflexible stance on pay negotiations, criticising their "stubborn refusal" to discuss wage rises separately without a full renegotiation of the collective agreement, which he said has forced the union's hand towards a "new escalation" in the dispute. If strikes roll out, they'll hammer tourism's core during its peak season, straining hoteliers and potentially leaving thousands of holidaymakers in the lurch, compelling a return to talks. The spectre of overtourism sparks battles across Spain this year. A fresh wave of protests is slated for 15 June, hitting hotspots like the Canary Islands, Majorca, Barcelona and other urban areas including Ibiza, Valencia, and Bilbao. Last summer saw locals enraged, rallying against the tourist flood in Barcelona, the Canaries and Majorca, with some residents even pinning property price surges on tourists and "digital nomads". A new series of demonstrations have kicked off this week, steered by the Southern European Network Against Touristisation, following initial protests that erupted in April 2025, with thousands marching to air worries over rampant tourism and escalating living costs attributed to the influx of visitors. Activist groups such as Menys Turisme, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) in Majorca, are calling for more sustainable tourism practices, restrictions on growth and improved protection for local environments and communities. These groups are orchestrating coordinated actions in cities across Spain, including Palma (Majorca), Barcelona, Lanzarote and Donostia-San Sebastián. Significant protests are planned in the following cities:
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Spain hotspot UK tourist chaos warning as hotel staff to 'strike every week on this day all summer'
The industrial action is being proposed in response to the "stubborn refusal" of employers to agree to a wage increase Hotel staff across Tenerife and the western Canary Islands are gearing up for a series of strikes this summer, with plans for weekly walkouts every Friday in July and August amid growing tensions between unions and hoteliers. The move could cause chaos in a destination popular with Brits - and it will be particularly disruptive as Friday is commonly a changeover day for travellers. Sindicalistas de Base, the primary union in the hospitality sector, declared on Monday that it intends to formally propose strike action at a union committee meeting scheduled for 16th June. The proposed action includes demonstrations outside major chain hotels and a sequence of strikes starting from Friday 4th July, the Canarian reported. This potential industrial action looms just months after similar strikes over the Easter period caused disruptions in the tourism industry, underscoring persistent grievances regarding pay and working conditions in one of the Canary Islands' key economic areas. Union leader Manuel Fitas highlighted that on 29th May, the union issued a 15-day ultimatum to hotel associations Ashotel and Aero to consent to a 6.5% pay rise before entering any new contract talks, a deadline which is now rapidly approaching. Fitas condemned what he termed the employers' "stubborn refusal" to negotiate wage increases separately from a complete renegotiation of the collective agreement, stating that this stance has compelled the union to prepare for a "new escalation" in the dispute. Should the strikes go ahead, they would strike at the heart of the tourism sector during its busiest season, potentially impacting thousands of tourists and increasing the pressure on hotel owners to return to the negotiating table. The issue of overtourism has been a cause of much conflict in Spain this year. A new bout of protests are scheduled for 15 June across Spain – in the Canary Islands, Majorca, Barcelona and other cities like Ibiza, Valencia and Bilbao. Last summer, in 2024, unhappy residents took to the streets of Barcelona, the Canary Islands and Majorca to protest against the overcrowding by tourists in peak seasons. Some even blamed rising house prices on tourists and 'digital nomads'. This week, a new round of protests is taking place, organised by the Southern European Network Against Touristisation. The protests began in earnest in April 2025, with thousands taking to the streets to voice concerns about mass tourism and the rising cost of living said to be driven by tourism. Activist groups like Menys Turisme, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) in Majorca, are demanding more sustainable tourism practices, limits on growth and better protection for local environments and communities. These groups are organising coordinated actions in cities across Spain, including Palma (Majorca), Barcelona, Lanzarote and Donostia-San Sebastián. Major demonstrations are scheduled in the following cities:
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Brits face holiday hotspot hell as bar staff in Tenerife send ultimatum to bosses or vow they will strike in peak season
BRITS chasing the sun this summer could face fresh holiday hell as bar staff prepare to strike during peak season. It comes after 80,000 employees took to the streets in Tenerife earlier in the year demanding better pay and working conditions. 6 6 6 In a move that could spark chaos for Brits travelling to Tenerife this summer, union bosses said industrial action could start as early as July. The unions, Sindicalistas de Base and UGT, have issued bosses with an ultimatum, warning of a major walk out if they are not granted a 6.5 per cent salary bump. They have made it clear that no further negotiations will happen if these conditions are not met. This isn't the first time Tenerife has been at the centre of sweeping industrial action. Last month, cleaners and restaurant workers in the sunny hotspot took to the streets after deeming an offer from their employer not acceptable. The tourism employers' association, formed by Ashotel and AERO, had offered a four per cent increase in pay for workers, hoping it would prevent them from protesting during the Easter holidays. But unions wanted 6.25 per cent. strike against tourists. With over 170,000 tourism workers in the Canary Islands set to protest, business owners about to welcome thousands of tourists were despairing. They planned to demonstrate in all the tourist hotspots, including Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. By law, strikers have to provide a "minimum service" but the unions said hotel cleaning, food and entertainment don't fall into this category. They said they must try and preserve the health of hotel workers and provide them with the very best of working conditions. Elsewhere, locals flooded the streets to protest against mass tourism in the area. Activists vowed to storm popular tourist attractions, disrupt public events and 'confront political leaders' in a fiery new phase of protests kicking off May 18 — right as peak holiday season begins. 'From now on, we will take our fight to the very spaces where their predatory model is perpetuated,' declared pressure group Canarias tiene un límite (The Canaries Have a Limit). 'We will boycott public events, confront political leaders during their appearances and occupy symbolic tourist spaces to make it clear that we will not stop until real change is achieved.' 'The Canary Islands can no longer be a postcard backdrop for the enjoyment of a privileged few,' the statement read. In a separate warning, the group said: 'This cry, which reflects the feelings of a people tired of being ignored and mistreated, will be the beginning of a new stage of struggle: firmer, more direct, more uncomfortable for those who refuse to listen to us and take real measures.' The backlash follows a 170,000-strong hotel and restaurant workers' strike across the islands just days ago, with locals slamming low wages and poor working conditions in the booming holiday industry. In June last year, beach workers also walked off the job over what unions called "precarious" conditions. As tensions boil over, the Canary Islands Government has now announced plans to completely overhaul its outdated 30-year-old tourism laws in a landmark reform effort. Alfonso Cabello, spokesperson for the regional government, said: 'We're doing this the Canary Islands way — extending a hand and listening to everyone.' The sweeping reforms aim to tackle everything from sky-high housing costs in tourist areas to crumbling infrastructure and overworked public services. 6 6 6
