Hospitality workers in the hotel industry will stage a strike during the busy Easter holiday period, on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, citing frustration over stagnant wages despite record-breaking profits across the sector.
The strike is being led by the major trade unions CCOO and UGT Canarias, who argue that frontline employees have yet to see the financial benefits of the tourism industry’s post-pandemic boom.
Union leaders Borja Suárez (CCOO) and Francisco González (UGT Canarias) have made it clear that while they are open to negotiating the terms of payment, the principle of fair compensation is non-negotiable. They stress that the success of the tourism and hospitality industry, one of the Canary Islands’ economic lifelines, is largely built on the hard work of employees whose wages have not kept pace with rising profits or inflation.
Talks between unions and employers have so far failed to yield agreement on the core issue of pay. However, some progress has been made regarding shift patterns and working conditions, particularly for housekeeping staff.
A crucial meeting scheduled for this Friday will see employers present their latest proposal on wage adjustments, a turning point that could either lead to a resolution or solidify plans for industrial action.
González voiced disappointment with the employers’ current stance, describing their offer as insufficient and falling short of workers’ expectations. He stressed that hospitality staff play a vital role in delivering the high-quality service that underpins the region’s tourism success, and must be compensated accordingly.
Suárez echoed this sentiment, stating that the existing offer is not enough to call off the proposed strike. The unions remain united, and on Monday, the Hospitality Union Table announced its support for the strike, giving the movement additional momentum ahead of the Easter travel rush.
While the exact wage demands have not been disclosed, the unions are standing firm on the need to restore workers’ purchasing power, an issue they claim has been eroded over time and remains unresolved in current negotiations.
The strike could have a significant impact on the tourism-dependent region during one of the year’s busiest periods. Union representatives, however, maintain that their objective is not to disrupt the holiday season, but to ensure that hospitality workers finally receive fair and just recognition for their contribution to the Canary Islands’ economic success.
