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Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow travellers face summer chaos amid strikes in Spain
Colossal strike action, including protests outside major hotel chains on the Spanish island, could see Glasgow and British holidaymakers facing chaos in July and August, reports The Sun. The mass walk-outs were proposed by the main tourism union in the European country. They are expected to hit the Canary Islands' capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. It is understood that strike action will begin on July 4, 2025. READ MORE: Glasgow holidaymakers warned of tsunami fears in Greece READ MORE: Glasgow travellers heading to South America warned of muggings Union leader Manuel Fitas of the Grassroots Trade Unionists revealed the action comes as employers have yet to agree on a pay rise for hotel workers. He claimed the employers had a 'stubborn refusal' to discuss salary improvements for staff. Glasgow travellers face summer chaos amid strikes in Spain (Image: Newsquest) According to Fitas, on May 29, the union gave employers a fifteen-day deadline to respond to their demand for a 6.5 per cent salary increase before negotiating a new agreement. However, employers have yet to come to a new agreement. If the strikes go ahead, the Sun claims they will 'prove disastrous for thousands of Brit holidaymakers'. They are planned for every Friday of July and August. As part of the strikes, British tourists should expect major disruptions. The scheduled walkouts and protests will be confirmed on June 16. Ahead of the potential strikes, the manager of the local employers' association, Juan Pablo González, said they were "moderately optimistic" of making progress in the talks. In terms of the efforts to avoid the strikes, González said they "limit everything to the table because that is how collective agreements are negotiated".
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- 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
2 days ago
- 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:
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Brits facing summer of chaos as hotel workers to strike every Friday in Tenerife throughout July and August
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ENRAGED hotel workers in Tenerife are set to strike every single week of summer - in the latest blow to Brit holidaymakers. Colossal strike action, which will include protests outside major hotel chains, will see Brit tourists facing chaos in July and August. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Anti-tourism protests have been fuelled by soaring numbers of Brits flying in Credit: Alamy 7 Thousands of locals march in Gran Canaria, May 18 Credit: Alamy 7 Anti-social behaviour and a large number of tourists have fuelled the anti-tourism movement Credit: Peter Jordan 7 The strikes were proposed by the main tourism union and are expected to hit the Canary Island's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. They are set to begin on July 4. Union leader Manuel Fitas of the Grassroots Trade Unionists said the action came as employers were yet to agree on a pay rise for hotel staff. He said the employers had a "stubborn refusal" to discuss salary improvements. Fitas explained that on May 29, they gave employers a fifteen-day deadline to respond to their demand for a 6.5% salary increase before negotiating a new agreement. But employers are yet to come to a new agreement. If confirmed, the nightmare strikes will prove disastrous for thousands of Brit holidaymakers rushing to the popular destination this summer. Planned for every Friday of July and August, the action is set to hit the tourism industry's peak summer season. Brit tourists should expect major disruptions as the unions intend to launch protests right outside the doors of hotels for maximum impact. Each of the scheduled walkouts and protests will be confirmed on June 16 when the dates are locked in place. Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage Despite the threat of the devastating strike, the manager of the local employers' association, Juan Pablo González, said they were "moderately optimistic" of making progress in the talks. Asked if they would be willing to make an exception to avoid a strike, he confirmed that "we limit everything to the table because that is how collective agreements are negotiated". The action comes after similar anti-tourism strikes have unleashed holiday hell for Brits in the Canary Islands. Brits headed to Tenerife over Easter faced nightmarish conditions as hotel and restaurant workers walked out on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Monday, after last-ditch talks to prevent the protests failed. "The Canary Islands have a limit" movement argues the Canaries' current economic model is "based on touristification, speculation, inequality and infinite growth in a very limited land". According to the Canarian Trade Union Federation, the wealth generated by tourism should be distributed more fairly to improve the labour and wage rights of more than 170,000 tourism workers in the Canaries. 7 Protesters gather in front of the Sagrada Familia under the slogan - 'The Canary Islands have a limit' Credit: Getty 7 Thousands of people are known to attend these protests, often held in dozens of cities across Spain They also demand fairer distribution of tourism revenue to improve life for Canarians, boosting public services like healthcare, affordable housing and transport to fix the current road collapses. The movement has issued ten key demands, including halting destructive developments, imposing a tourist tax, enforcing a moratorium on new tourist projects, protecting natural areas and stopping sea pollution, among others. On May 18, thousands of fed-up locals flooded the streets of the Canary Islands in Spain's third wave of protests against overtourism this year. Locals across the Canaries say their home has been turned into a playground for tourists. Demonstrations took place across the Spanish archipelago's islands, including Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. Holidaymakers awkwardly watched from the sidelines as the marches progressed through towns. What is the anti-tourist movement? Locals are calling for three key measures: Tourist moratorium: A freeze on new hotel and holiday rental licences, especially in overcrowded areas, to ease pressure on resources and protect rural and coastal land. Ecotax: A tourist tax to fund public services and offset the environmental impact of mass tourism. Holiday rental regulation: Stricter controls on platforms like Airbnb and real estate speculation to keep housing affordable for residents. In Santa Cruz alone, Tenerife's capital, around 7,000 people were estimated to be on the streets by Spanish security forces. In Gran Canaria, around 3,000 people were estimated to be present. Misbehaving Brits visiting the Canary Islands have also fuelled a growing sentiment against tourism among workers in Tenerife. Shocking footage showed two brits starting a vicious brawl in Tenerife while a crowd of yobs cheered them on. Viral footage recorded in Playa de las Américas, a popular resort in the holiday hotspot, showed the men throwing jabs at each other before bystanders started to intervene. And last week, dramatic footage also showed two Brit women scrapping in the streets of Tenerife while being leered at. Both fights sparked fury among locals, who complained of the manic Brit behaviour on their streets.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Brits facing summer of chaos as hotel workers to strike every Friday in Tenerife throughout July and August
ENRAGED hotel workers in Tenerife are set to strike every single week of summer - in the latest blow to Brit holidaymakers. 7 Anti-tourism protests have been fuelled by soaring numbers of Brits flying in Credit: Alamy 7 Thousands of locals march in Gran Canaria, May 18 Credit: Alamy 7 Anti-social behaviour and a large number of tourists have fuelled the anti-tourism movement Credit: Peter Jordan 7 The strikes were proposed by the main tourism union and are expected to hit the They are set to begin on July 4. Union leader Manuel Fitas of the Grassroots Trade Unionists said the action came as employers were yet to agree on a He said the employers had a "stubborn refusal" to discuss salary improvements. read more travel news Fitas explained that on May 29, they gave employers a fifteen-day deadline to respond to their demand for a 6.5% salary increase before negotiating a new agreement. But employers are yet to come to a new agreement. If confirmed, the nightmare strikes will prove disastrous for thousands of Brit holidaymakers rushing to the popular destination this summer. Planned for every Friday of July and August, the action is set to hit the tourism industry's peak summer season. Most read in News Travel Brit tourists should expect major disruptions as the unions intend to launch protests right outside the doors of hotels for maximum impact. Each of the scheduled walkouts and protests will be confirmed on June 16 when the dates are locked in place. Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage Despite the threat of the devastating strike, the manager of the local employers' association, Juan Pablo González, said they were "moderately optimistic" of making progress in the talks. Asked if they would be willing to make an exception to avoid a strike, he confirmed that "we limit everything to the table because that is how collective agreements are negotiated". The action comes after similar anti-tourism strikes have unleashed holiday hell for Brits in the Canary Islands . Brits headed to "The According to the Canarian Trade Union Federation, the wealth generated by tourism should be distributed more fairly to improve the labour and wage rights of more than 170,000 tourism workers in the Canaries. 7 Protesters gather in front of the Sagrada Familia under the slogan - 'The Canary Islands have a limit' Credit: Getty 7 Thousands of people are known to attend these protests, often held in dozens of cities across Spain They also demand fairer distribution of tourism revenue to improve life for Canarians, boosting public services like healthcare, affordable housing and transport to fix the current road collapses. The movement has issued ten key demands, including halting destructive developments, imposing a tourist tax, enforcing a moratorium on new tourist projects, protecting natural areas and stopping sea pollution, among others. On May 18, thousands of fed-up locals flooded the streets of the Canary Islands in Spain's third wave of protests against overtourism this year. Locals across the Holidaymakers awkwardly watched from the sidelines as the marches progressed through towns. What is the anti-tourist movement? Locals are calling for three key measures: Tourist moratorium: A freeze on new hotel and holiday rental licences, especially in overcrowded areas, to ease pressure on resources and protect rural and coastal land. Ecotax: A tourist tax to fund public services and offset the environmental impact of mass tourism. Holiday rental regulation: Stricter controls on platforms like Airbnb and real estate speculation to keep housing affordable for residents. In Santa Cruz alone, Tenerife's capital, around 7,000 people were estimated to be on the streets by Spanish security forces. In Gran Canaria, around 3,000 people were estimated to be present. Misbehaving Brits visiting the Canary Islands have also fuelled a growing sentiment against tourism among workers in Tenerife. Shocking footage showed two brits starting a vicious brawl in Tenerife while a crowd of yobs cheered them on. Viral footage recorded in And last week, dramatic footage also showed two Brit women scrapping in the streets of Tenerife while being leered at. Both fights sparked fury among locals, who complained of the manic Brit behaviour on their streets. 7 Protesters with the slogan - 'The Canary Islands are not for sale, they are loved and defended'
