Waste-collection and street-cleaning workers in Manacor are on strike. The indefinite action commenced yesterday and was called in protest over pay and working conditions. Minimum services will apply only to hospitals and health centres, senior citizens' homes and urgent cases.
The summer has therefore started and the rubbish isn't being collected. The strike obviously applies to Manacor's coastal parts, such as Porto Cristo, as well as to the town. Miguel Ángel Pardo of the CCOO union says that the situation is a "disgrace" and accuses the town hall of having tried to deceive the workers through conditions that will apply to a new contract for rubbish and cleaning that will be put out to tender shortly.
The company that has the contract is Lumsa-FCC. The union says that Lumsa pays the workers 877 euros per month and has proposed a 1.75% increase. "This is unacceptable," adds Pardo. The union wants 1,000 euros a month, which would represent a 14% rise, as well as improved working conditions.
This is not the first time that Lumsa employees have gone on strike. They did so in July two years ago. The strike lasted around a week and was ended by an agreement for a 1.2% pay rise.
Another strike, by employees of Melchor Mascaró, which has the rubbish and cleaning contract in the Raiguer "mancomunitat" of municipalities, was called off at the last minute after agreement in principle was reached with the company.