Friday marked the beginning of the strike in the Cleaning Services of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with loud whistling and horn-blowing protests outside the City Hall. Approximately two hundred people participated in the demonstration, which is expected to be repeated on July 31st.
Employees from Home Care, Rescue and Lifeguarding, and municipal Firefighters joined the protest, sharing key demands such as a widespread lack of personnel, job insecurity, and an "alarming deterioration of working conditions" that they claim endanger both employees and the public. They also criticize the progressive privatization of essential public services.
“"The cleaning of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is not defended by turning it into a company; it is defended by strengthening the public service. These committees will always be on the side of direct public management, the workers, and the general interest of the citizens."
The City Council has proposed the creation of the Municipal Urban Hygiene Company, a mixed-model commercial entity. Unions fear this could lead to the loss of public employee status, layoffs, and worse working conditions.
Currently, the municipal cleaning staff consists of 417 employees. The COBAS Canarias union estimates that 60% of the workers supported the strike, while respecting the minimum services established by the council, which include 11 workers for street cleaning and 7 for waste collection, around 5%.
For its part, the City Council assures it maintains its commitment to dialogue with worker representatives to seek agreements. However, unions have prepared a negotiation and protest schedule for July, with another strike day set for July 31st if no progress is made.
