On January 27, Comisiones Obreras del Habitat de Madrid reported through a communiqué on the alleged failure of the phased urban waste collection system in the capital. It assured that it “compromises the quality of the service and the working conditions of the workers,” calling for action by the Madrid City Council.
Three months later, the capital is facing an indefinite strike affecting the waste collection service. It began on Monday, April 21, at 11:00 p.m., and has the maximum support of the conveners: the trade unions of Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), the General Union of Workers (UGT) and the General Confederation of Labor (CGT).
The unions are asking the companies subcontracted by the Madrid City Council (FCC, Valoriza, Acciona, OHL, Prezero and Urbaser) to guarantee decent working conditions for the waste collectors. They demand homogeneity, greater stability and an improvement in wages for the collective.
Household waste collection every two days
The Madrid City Council confirmed that there would be minimum collection services during the strike. In hospitals, schools, kindergartens and residences, they operate under the usual conditions, with no changes.
The protests affect to a greater extent the removal of household waste, which is every 48 hours. The service falls on one day of the week or another depending on the district:
- Tuesday 22, Thursday 24, Saturday 26 and Monday 28 April: Centro, Arganzuela, Salamanca, Chamartín, Fuencarral-El Pardo, Chamberí, Moncloa-Aravaca, Carabanchel, Usera, Ciudad Lineal, Vicálvaro and San Blas-Canillejas.
- Wednesday 23, Friday 25 and Sunday 27 April: Retiro, Tetuán, Latina, Puente de Vallecas, Moratalaz, Hortaleza, Villaverde, Villa de Vallecas and Barajas.
Paper, cardboard and glass are spared from the strike
Paper, cardboard and glass collection services in Madrid will not be affected by the strike, according to the official agreements of the consistory. Therefore, among those excluded are:
- The specific containers (blue, green and yellow). They will maintain their usual collection on normal days and times.
- The commercial collection service. Companies and establishments will continue to dispose of materials in this category.
- The clean points. They will continue to operate for the deposit of recyclable waste.
First consequences of the strike.
The strike is starting to be felt in the busiest streets of Madrid: garbage bags piled up, overflowing bins, neighbors waiting for solutions, insufficient collection services… Meanwhile, the companies subcontracted by the consistory and the unions are reluctant to set a date for an agreement.