Around 100 library workers in Barcelona participated in a unified demonstration at Palau Robert on 25 April, marking the first Saturday of an indefinite strike. Staff are demanding "dignified working conditions" and a quality public service, according to reports. The protest, supported by the CGT and Intersindical unions, is the first joint strike and mobilisation involving all libraries in Barcelona province.
The workers began their march down Rambla de Catalunya, heading towards Plaça de Sant Jaume, in front of Barcelona City Council. Before reaching their final destination, they paused at the Barcelona Provincial Council headquarters, displaying banners that called for a "good public service" and "dignified conditions for workers."
Key Demands from Library Staff
Workers have highlighted five main issues that contribute to what they describe as precarious labour conditions. These include a "lack of purchasing power" and insufficient staffing levels. They also pointed to excessive working hours, making work-life balance difficult, and a "growing discomfort due to a lack of recognition."
Pau Solsona, a CGT union delegate for the Barcelona Libraries Consortium, stated that the situation particularly affects women. "We are against agreements that make feminised groups precarious and cut rights," Solsona told reporters. Laura Solà, a CGT union delegate at the Barcelona Provincial Council, added that staffing levels are currently based on population numbers. "We ask that socio-economic realities also be taken into account," Solà explained, noting that some areas have "spaces of maximum socio-economic complexity."
Solà called for support from social technicians and criticised how library staff hours often "cover the shortcomings that city councils have," which she described as "shared deficiencies between the Provincial Council and the city councils."
Long-standing Issues and Future Actions
Library assistants present at the demonstration confirmed that these issues have been ongoing for "many, many years." They expressed concerns about staff shortages, a lack of generational replacement, and the difficulty of balancing work with family life.
The indefinite strike will continue every Saturday until an agreement is reached between the workers and the relevant authorities. Further negotiations are expected as staff press for their demands to be met, aiming for a resolution that addresses both their working conditions and the quality of public library services.
