Bombers de la Generalitat, Catalonia's regional fire service, have indicated they may hold further protests in Barcelona this autumn over what they describe as precarious working conditions. The firefighters say the dispute concerns safety measures during fire responses, a matter they say affects the protection available to crews attending incidents.

The group has intensified protests that began at the start of summer and has launched a social-media campaign under the slogan “Help us to help you”. It says it stopped working overtime in June as a pressure measure.

“Help us to help you.”

Firefighters cite toxic-exposure safeguards

In the campaign video, firefighters call for compliance with the Occupational Risk Prevention Law. They say effective protocols are still lacking to protect staff from exposure to toxic substances while putting out fires.

Their stated requests include a second uniform so that firefighters can change after each call-out, and a professional cleaning and decontamination service for personal protective equipment.

  • A second uniform for use after an intervention.
  • Professional cleaning and decontamination of protective equipment.
  • Effective protocols to limit exposure to toxic substances during firefighting.

Claims over station supplies and personal spending

The firefighters also say some fire stations have washing machines without detergent, and that staff have had to pay for part of their protective equipment themselves. They describe these problems as avoidable.

“We pay for equipment out of our own pockets.”

According to the group, the issues form part of a longer-running employment dispute concerning working conditions and safety during interventions. Its social-media campaign asks the public to give the claims greater visibility.

Primary sources: Ajuntament de Barcelona. Reported by Source Text Link, Andoni Berná, Irene Casellas, Pere Roca Soler, Judit Castaño, 3CatInfo, Eva Batlle, Laura Fíguls (ACN), R. Bruna, Guillem RS, Julio Collado, Clàudia Mas, vilaweb.cat, Públic, Pau Esparch, redacció, metropoliabierta.cat.