Hundreds of Serra Soldadura workers in Barcelona protested on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, against the closure of their Zona Franca plant, which threatens 500 jobs and prompted them to cut Via Laietana. The demonstration, led by unions CCOO and CGT, saw nearly all of the workforce from the subsidiary of Basque multinational Aernnova march through the city centre towards Plaça de Sant Jaume. This protest is one of several strike days organised in recent weeks, following the company's announcement that it had initiated a voluntary creditor's arrangement for its Barcelona branch. Workers expressed indignation, stating they 'pulled together and made sacrifices' during difficult times, according to previous reports. The potential loss of 500 industrial jobs, both direct and indirect, has also caused concern among affected municipalities. While unions have called for the Generalitat's involvement to keep the company operating, city councils including Barcelona, Sant Boi, and L'Hospitalet have sent representatives, some of them mayors, to previous gatherings. ## Municipal Support and Company History Specifically, the mayors of L'Hospitalet, David Quirós; Gavà, Gemma Badia; and El Prat de Llobregat, Alba Bou, have offered their backing. Representatives from Viladecans and Barcelona municipal governments, including fifth deputy mayor Raquel Gil, also attended to show solidarity. Serra Soldadura, founded in 1934, has a long history in engineering, development, and manufacturing of industrial welding products, primarily for the automotive sector. It is an almost century-old industrial company facing collapse without metropolitan intervention. Aernnova attributes the company's potential closure to a poor market situation and declining demand. However, this explanation surprised the workforce, as Serra Soldadura reported a turnover of €70 million in 2023. Workers argue that the current situation 'is a consequence of erroneous business decisions that have placed Serra Soldadura in a critical scenario.' Sebastián Zamora, a CGT union delegate, told reporters, "We are defending our jobs, but also the future of Catalan industry. Serra Soldadura is Industry 4.0. It is high value-added work. Aernnova, the multinational, has not been able to take charge of Serra Soldadura. A company that relies on public money has absorbed materials and clients and has spent a year allowing it to decline." The entire workforce chanted, "Aernnova is corporate terrorism." Barcelona City Council has urged the Generalitat to ensure the reindustrialisation of Serra Soldadura and safeguard the 500 jobs at risk, highlighting the broader significance of preserving high-value industrial employment in Catalonia.