Holidaymakers warned that Majorca will ‘smell all over’: Bin men promise the island will stink after announcing an indefinite strike
- Refuse collectors say they will go on an indefinite strike from August 22
- They are seeking wage rises so they are paid at least 1,000 euros per month
- If it goes ahead, tourists are being warned to expect rubbish outside hotels
Bin men on the holiday island of Majorca are promising the island ‘will smell all over’ after confirming an indefinite walkout from August 22.
The strike was agreed on Tuesday afternoon at a vote during a workers’ assembly in the capital, Palma.
Workers’ Commission leader Miguel Pardo insisted refuse collectors did not want to damage tourism.
Bin men on the holiday island of Majorca are set to go on an indefinite strike from August 22. Pictured is the beach at Port de Soller on the island
But he said at the end of the assembly in comments echoed by respected Majorcan paper Diario de Mallorca: ‘We are prepared to strike although we hope we don’t have to.
‘We hope the government and town halls want to adopt a new agreement.
‘We wouldn’t like to do any damage to tourism. With a strike like this, Majorca is going to smell all over in three days.’
Tourists have been warned to expect mountains of rubbish outside their hotels if the walkout goes ahead.
Refuse collectors from four subcontractors working on the island, Melchor Mascaro, FCC, Ferrovial and Urbaser, will be involved.
Industrial action is expected to affect the whole island apart from three municipalities including Palma and Calvia, which Magaluf is part of.
Union leaders have warned any strike is likely to be indefinite, with the walkout continuing until bosses agree to sit down and discuss a collective regional agreement unifying wages and conditions for around 3,000 workers.
Around 2.3 million Brits holiday on Majorca every year, around a quarter of the total number of tourists the island receives. Pictured is the beach at Cala Millor
They are thought to be seeking wage rises which would see drivers getting around 1,300 euros (£1,195) a month and the rubbish collectors a minimum of 1,000 euros (£917) a month.
Mr Pardo sounded a strike warning last month when he said bin men had made it clear to him they planned a walkout but wanted to give bosses a ‘last chance’ to accept negotiations before they call a walkout.
Around 2.3 million Brits holiday on Majorca every year, around a quarter of the total number of tourists the island receives.
Hotel chambermaids on the neighbouring island of Ibiza are set to strike later this month over claims their health is suffering because of ‘slave labour’ conditions.
Around 8,000 of the women, known in Spain as ‘Kellys’, will walk out on August 24 and 25.
Travellers took to social media to show how Ibiza Airport had turned into a ‘disgusting’ rubbish dump during a cleaners’ strike there just over two years ago.
Videos showed piles of trash in public areas, including old food and nappies strewn across the floor.