Strike threatens: summer vacation on Tenerife in danger!

Strike threatens: summer vacation on Tenerife in danger!

Tenerife is facing a strike in the hotel and catering industry this summer after negotiations between unions and employers' associations became deadlocked. Loud t-online.de The Sindicalistas de Base and UGT unions have given 15 days to demand a 6.5% wage increase for workers in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. If no agreement is reached by mid-June, the strike could begin as early as July.

The negotiations that have been underway since Thursday between the unions and the employers' associations Ashotel and Aero have stalled. Trade unions are also calling for the intervention of the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, and the Regional Minister of Tourism and Labor, Jéssica de León. Both were already involved in the negotiations at Easter, when 80,000 restaurant and hotel employees demonstrated for better working conditions during the holidays. These protests led to massive restrictions in the hotel and hospitality industry on the islands, which once again highlights the explosive situation in the industry.

Background to the strikes

The background to the current conflict is the stagnating purchasing power of wages in a sector that is making record profits. Real wages have barely increased in the last three years, which has further fueled dissatisfaction among employees. The unions have rejected the offered wage increases of 2% in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and 2.25% in Las Palmas for 2025. Instead, they are demanding a full wage increase without deductions, retroactive to January 2025.

The situation on Tenerife is further complicated by reports of an ongoing labor dispute in the neighboring islands of La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro, where the threat of strikes could also lead to massive restrictions in the hotel and catering industry due to inadequate wage negotiations. Loud reisereporter.de This could lead to a significant impact on tourism, as many services in the affected areas will be restricted or even suspended.

Consequences for holidaymakers

In the event of a strike, travelers could face significant restrictions with providers based in Tenerife. Losses of reception staff, room service and reduced buffets are just some of the so-called “potential impacts”. Closed restaurants and restricted excursions as well as affected shuttle or transfer services could also put a strain on the vacation of package travelers. Since hotel services are not considered “essential services”, there is no legally specified minimum operation, which is likely to further aggravate the situation.

Unions have said they will appeal against the minimum services set in order to minimize the impact on workers. However, travelers can be assured that their rights under the EU Package Travel Directive are protected and they are entitled to replacement services or refunds in certain circumstances.

The coming weeks are crucial for the future of employees in the hotel and hospitality sector in Tenerife. It remains to be seen whether an agreement can be reached between unions and employers to prevent a strike and improve working conditions.