The 22nd of April marked the end of the first month of an indefinite strike in Barcelona by workers at the Sant Sadorni d`Anoia logistics centre for the major Spanish Supermarket chain Mercadona.
The dispute began with the sacking of 3 members of the anarcho-syndicalist union CNT and the culmination of a campaign of threats by the company against workers unionising. Even before a strike was declared the company brought in scab workers, attempting to preempt the actions of their own employees. Immediately, the workforce went on strike, initially for 10 days, and has since developed into an indefinite strike.
The demands of the strikers are:
- The reinstatement of the sacked workers.
- Payment for obligatory 30 minute breaks.
- Compliance with Health & Safety regulations.
- An end to harassment of workers.
- Recognition of the CNT and its delegates.
- Guarantees of job security.
There have been daily pickets outside the centre itself, as well as pickets of many Mercadona's 970 stores and other logistics centres such as the one in Valencia by other members of the CNT attempting to spread the strike and more than eleven demonstrations in the centre of Barcelona to raise public awareness of the strike.
Several times the pickets have been violently attacked by the police and Mercadona's private security. The CNT is appealing for urgent financial help for the strikers, many of whom are migrant workers and as such are in an increasingly vulnerable situation.
Bank details for sending donations are:
Europe IBAN: ES08 2100 (La Caixa)-1183-35-0100505773
Rest of the world: BIC (Swift): CAIXESBBXXX 2100 (La Caixa)- 1183-35-0100505773
For more information on the strike see www.cnt.es/mercacoso & barcelona.cnt.es (in Spanish), also see www.iwa-ait.org