Barcelona library workers will launch a series of protests this week that will fully impact the Sant Jordi holiday. The conflict, led by the CGT and La Intersindical unions, stems from staff discontent following the adoption of the City Council’s new collective bargaining agreement—a process the group describes as “disastrous management.”
The protest will begin this afternoon with a partial strike and the occupation of the Sarrià – J.V. Foix Library. The main actions will take place this Tuesday, April 21, with a 24-hour strike that will also be joined by employees of the Barcelona Provincial Council’s library network.
Demands and work stoppages on Saturday
The Works Council has formally requested the resignation of the Consortium’s manager, Ferran Burguillos, and the Councilor for Culture, Xavier Marcé. Among the main complaints are understaffing, workdays lasting up to 11 consecutive hours, and the inability to balance personal and professional life . In addition, workers are protesting the elimination of IT support services and the lack of financial recognition for providing direct care to users in vulnerable situations.
Starting next Saturday, April 25, the service will be suspended indefinitely every Saturday. This measure has the support of the CGT in the regional authority, which will extend the conflict to the 280 libraries in the provincial network, in addition to the 41 in the Catalan capital.
Protest Schedule
The schedule of demonstrations includes daily actions throughout the literary week:
- Wednesday, April 22: Rally in Sant Miquel Square during the Sant Jordi opening speech.
- Thursday, April 23: Demonstration at the Portal de l’Àngel during Sant Jordi Day.
- Friday, April 24: Protest actions coinciding with the City Council plenary session.
Worker representatives have warned that if the administration refuses to negotiate improved pay and working conditions, the conflict will escalate. The union is already considering calling for new strikes during the weeks leading up to the university entrance exams, a period in which these facilities are essential for high school students.
