PROPERTY SEARCH
PROPERTY SEARCH
ARCHIVED - Spanish Embassy in the UK goes on strike over sub-minimum wage salaries
Consulate and embassy staff are holding an indefinite work stoppage over insufficient pay from the Spanish government
Workers at the Embassy of Spain in London and the Consulates in London, Manchester and Edinburgh are going on indefinite strike from Monday March 14 over complaints about job insecurity, pensions, and salaries which don’t even meet the UK’s National Minimum Wage.
The Spanish Diplomatic Mission in the UK will be operating with reduced staff, as their locally hired workers are intending to start industrial action following months of unsuccessful communications with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Madrid. They are asking the Spanish government for pay increases and wage parity after 14 years of wage freezes.
The affected workers find themselves in a position of extreme insecurity and vulnerability caused by reduced purchasing power since their last annual salary adjustment in 2008. In addition, they are facing the effects of the cost-of-living crisis, amid significant rises in inflation and National Insurance contributions, while being restricted to three of the UK’s most expensive cities. As a result, some staff salaries will be under the threshold of UK’s National Minimum Wage after the next adjustment, which not only causes real difficulties for workers but is also illegal.
This situation has led to a sense of abandonment by the Spanish Authorities, which has been particularly felt by the more established members of the team. Due to this lack of salary adjustment, some senior staff now find their salaries to be lower than those who have recently joined the team – rarely reaching £25,000. Under these circumstances, they cannot foresee a future at the Spanish Mission.
On the first day of the strike, Monday March 14, workers from the four offices will be demonstrating and picketing at the Embassy of Spain at 12.30pm, in the London neighbourhood of Belgravia.
Image: Embassy of Spain in London
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox
Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)
OR
you can sign up to our FREE weekly roundup!
Read some of our recent bulletins:
25% Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
(List price 3 months 12 Bulletins)
Read more stories from around Spain:
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268
