In one of the world’s most unusual strikes, staff members at Spanish embassies in seven countries are on strike against wage freezes, for equal pay and improved benefits.
The strike started in London on March 14th, with workers complaining that their wages had been frozen for the past thirteen years, and that they were forced to contribute to the UK social security system rather than to their home system in Spain. The workers make between €20 and €26 thousand per year, far below what’s needed to cover London expenses.
The strike quickly spread to consulates in Manchester and Edinburgh, and then to staff members in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Ireland and Australia. In the UK, the actions are now limited to two hours per day under an interim agreement between Madrid and PLEX, an association of workers.
Image: Embassy staff in UK, 2017
