Workers at Nestlé factories in Reus and Girona protested on Friday afternoon against a proposed redundancy plan that would affect 178 employees in Catalonia. Around 40 people gathered in Reus, while approximately 25 demonstrated in Girona, coinciding with a shift change at 1pm.
The company's plan includes 12 redundancies at the Girona factory, 8 at the Reus plant, and the remaining 158 at its central office in Esplugues de Llobregat. A meeting between unions and Nestlé management concluded without agreement, with further talks scheduled for 20 May.
Nestlé management maintains that the redundancies are not due to economic reasons but rather a 'lack of sustainability' for the business in the medium term, according to union representatives. Unions have unanimously rejected this explanation and requested more information on the points raised by the company.
Union Rejection of Justification
Nestlé announced the redundancy plan in April, affecting 301 workers across Spain. The protests on Friday, from 1pm to 3pm, marked the start of a period of industrial action. In Reus, CCOO and UGT called the protest, while in Girona, only CCOO representatives were present.
The company justifies the job cuts by citing factors such as the rise of private label brands, digitalisation, and automation, stating these measures are necessary to ensure future viability. However, CCOO believes the redundancies are not justified. A CCOO representative, Eslava, who is also on the Reus factory's works council, said the company is not making losses. "The company always makes a profit," Eslava stated, calling Nestlé's arguments for the redundancies "a lie."
CCOO is pressing for more information, describing the company's report as "ambiguous." The union also highlighted the relatively young workforce and suggested that early retirement for employees over 60 could prevent job losses.
"Good Faith" and Future Action
From the Girona protest, Pablo Esteban, CCOO secretary for Nestlé, acknowledged the company's "good faith" but stressed the union's goal is to "stop the redundancy plan." He expressed regret that Nestlé is justifying the cuts based on losses over "a certain period."
Esteban recalled that Nestlé experienced "extraordinary profits" during the Covid-19 pandemic, with employees working harder than ever. "We have been working very intensely for years, achieving production records. We have given everything and always will. We do not understand why the company, for money, when it is not justified, uses AI to put people out of work. If the situation gets complicated, they should be prepared," he warned.
Notably, UGT was not represented at the Girona protest, a situation that surprised other unions. Esteban said CCOO would remain in contact with UGT for future mobilisations. He acknowledged Nestlé offers "good working conditions" and stability but pointed out challenges like shifts, night work, and working during public holidays. "We achieved these conditions through our pressure, and this conflict will be even worse," he concluded. On 20 May, workers from the Esplugues de Llobregat central offices are also expected to demonstrate.
