In Madrid, an indefinite garbage strike officially began at 23:00 on Sunday, April 21, 2025, leading to significant disruptions in waste collection services across the capital. The strike, which affects several districts, is a result of ongoing negotiations between workers and garbage collection companies, including FCC, Valoriza, Acciona, OHL, Prezero, and Urbaser, over a unified labor agreement.
The Madrid City Council has responded to the situation by imposing fines totaling 1.6 million euros on the companies for failing to comply with minimum service requirements during the strike. This penalty is expected to increase as the strike continues, with daily fines of 400,000 euros for non-compliance.
To mitigate the impact of the strike, the City Council has established minimum services, allowing for the collection of household waste every 48 hours. This means that residents will see garbage collection on alternate days, with specific districts scheduled for collection on different days. For example, on Saturday, April 26, and Monday, April 28, garbage will be collected in districts such as Centro, Arganzuela, and Salamanca, while collection in Retiro, Tetuán, and Latina will occur on Friday, April 25, and Sunday, April 27.
Despite these measures, the situation remains critical, as many residents are already experiencing the effects of accumulating waste on the streets. The City Council has urged citizens to refrain from putting out their garbage on non-collection days to prevent further issues with odors and hygiene.
While hospitals, schools, and markets are exempt from the strike and will continue to receive 100% garbage collection services, the general public must adapt to the new collection schedule. In addition, the collection of recyclable materials such as paper, cardboard, and glass will proceed as usual, providing some relief to the overall waste management situation.
As the strike enters its sixth day, unions and garbage collection companies have reached a preliminary agreement that will be voted on by workers on Sunday, April 27, at 11:00 AM. The City Council is hopeful that this agreement will be ratified, allowing services to resume for residents. The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has emphasized the importance of finding a resolution, stating, "We cannot allow the people of Madrid to be held hostage by those who refuse to negotiate and suffer the consequences of their inaction."
In the lead-up to the vote, the City Council has threatened to take emergency measures, including hiring external companies to collect garbage if the preliminary agreement is not approved. This ultimatum adds pressure to both the unions and the companies involved, as the City Council seeks to avoid a prolonged crisis reminiscent of a similar situation that occurred 12 years ago.
The previous strike lasted 13 days and resulted in significant unrest, with numerous arrests and accusations of vandalism. The current situation, however, appears to have heightened tensions, with unions accusing the City Council of violating workers' rights by intervening in the strike. On Friday, April 25, unions filed a complaint against the City Council for allegedly undermining the right to strike, claiming that the municipal cleaning service (SELUR) has been collecting garbage beyond the established minimum services.
As negotiations continue, the unions have expressed that their primary demands include improvements in working conditions and a new collective bargaining agreement, which has been overdue since the previous agreement expired on December 31, 2024. The unions have highlighted issues such as wage freezes and changes to holiday compensation as key points of contention that need to be addressed.
As the vote approaches, the City Council remains optimistic that a resolution will be reached, allowing for the resumption of normal garbage collection services. However, if the agreement is rejected, the City Council is prepared to activate emergency contracts on Sunday night, enabling other companies to intervene and manage waste collection.
The situation is fluid, and the outcome of the vote will determine the next steps for all parties involved. Meanwhile, residents are urged to remain patient and adapt to the temporary changes in waste collection schedules, as the City Council works to navigate this challenging labor dispute.
