This Thursday’s demonstration, organised by CCOO in Playa Honda, brought together dozens of workers from Lanzarote’s retail sector, who are demanding a fair agreement following the expiry of the previous one on 31 December 2023.
The protest, under the slogan “Retail is Moving”, aimed to highlight the stalemate in collective bargaining and the working conditions that, according to the union, impact thousands of families on the island and over 30,000 people in the province of Las Palmas.
The retail sector in Lanzarote is facing an employment landscape that the organisers describe as “increasingly difficult to sustain”. With monthly net salaries of around €1,290—incorporating prorated bonus payments—and shifts that practically cover the entire year, staff claim to be working under unattractive conditions that hinder job stability.
Alejandro Domínguez, General Secretary of the CCOO Insular Union in Lanzarote, spoke during the event, stating that “the conflict arises from the attitude of the employers, who seek to cut acquired rights, such as the temporary incapacity supplement, and show a clear lack of willingness to improve the working conditions in the sector”.
The union argues that the absence of progress in negotiations prevents the dignification of retail work and warns that the current situation not only affects the quality of life for employees but also the island’s economic development.
Upcoming Mobilisations
During the concentration in Playa Honda, Domínguez announced that the next trade union action is scheduled for 10 September, when a car caravan will take place in Lanzarote. This mobilization will coincide with the parliamentary debate and voting on the draft law proposing to reduce the weekly working hours to 37.5.
The call aims to raise awareness of the importance of passing a measure that, according to CCOO, would help improve work-life balance and job quality.
Through this protest, the union seeks to maintain pressure on the negotiations for the retail agreement in Lanzarote, amidst a context marked by disagreement between the union organisations and employers.
